The Missouri Legislature will convene a veto session Wednesday in Jefferson City.
Republican lawmakers are expected to attempt a veto override vote on Senate Bill 656, a constitutional carry law that would allow concealed carry of firearms without first getting a permit.
Governor Jay Nixon vetoed the legislation in June.
Kansas City officials surrounded Mayor Sly James Tuesday at a news conference at Rose Brooks Center, a shelter for abused women and children.
“We cannot protect women and children from their abusers if we are making it easier for those abusers to carry a concealed weapon,” said James.
Rose Brooks Center CEO Susan Miller called the bill dangerous.
“If requiring permits for concealed weapons is removed from Missouri law in Senate Bill 656, sheriffs lose the ability to keep guns from domestic violence abusers,” said Miller.
Cheryl Rose, Deputy Chief of Kansas City police, said the bill “would allow anyone convicted of a misdemeanor, including domestic assault,” to conceal and carry.
Some of the strongest criticism from the event was aimed at the lack of training required of gun owners if the veto is overridden.
Firearm instructor Kyle Boyer said most students going through CCW training don’t know use of force laws. He said he asks each class if anyone has done the research.
“Out of a class of 18, typically two people raise their hands,” said Boyer. “Then I follow it up with this question, ‘How many in here own a firearm?’ Out of 18 people, everyone raises their hands.”
Jackson County Sheriff Mike Sharp said SB 656 is a bad bill.
“The public should understand that Jackson County has declined over 900 requests for a conceal and carry permit since the existing law has been in effect,” said Sharp. “We need to continue to take guns out of the hands of people who are going to be harmful to our community. If overridden, SB 656 would give those rejected 900 people the ability to own a gun.”
Advocates for the bill said current Missouri law imposes on law-abiding citizens' 2nd amendment right to carry.
“If a criminal decides to be a criminal then that’s a personal choice,” said Frontier Justice president Bren Brown. “People kill people, guns don’t kill people.”
Spokespeople for both Wyandotte and Johnson counties in Kansas report no issues since Kansas implemented a similar law two years ago.
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Brian Abel can be reached at brian.abel@kshb.com.
