The bill proposes the repeal of section 571.095 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri and enacts two new sections, 571.068 and 571.095, which address unlawful possession of firearms by minors. Under the new section 571.068, a person under eighteen years of age commits the offense of unlawful possession of a firearm if they knowingly possess a handgun or ammunition suitable only for a handgun, which is classified as a class A misdemeanor. The section outlines specific exceptions where minors may possess handguns, such as during employment, farming activities, target practice, or hunting, provided they have prior written consent from a parent or guardian and transport the firearm unloaded in a locked container. Additionally, the bill modifies the existing provisions regarding the confiscation of firearms and ammunition in cases involving minors. It states that firearms or ammunition possessed by a minor in violation of section 571.068 will not be permanently confiscated if the transfer to the minor was lawful, and such items must be returned to the lawful owner once they are no longer needed for investigation or prosecution. The bill also clarifies that proceeds from the sale or trade of confiscated firearms will belong to the police or sheriff's department involved in the arrest, with stipulations for returning items to rightful owners if they were not involved in the crime.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (6389H.01): 571.068, 571.095