SPONSOR: Schnelting
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass with HCS" by the Standing Committee on General Laws by a vote of 12 to 3. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Legislative Oversight by a vote of 7 to 2.
The following is a summary of the House Committee Substitute for HB 1462.
Currently, it is a crime to board a bus with a dangerous or deadly weapon or carry such a weapon in a terminal.
This bill allows a concealed carry permit holder to lawfully carry firearms on public transportation, as defined in the bill. Anyone with a permit may also carry a firearm while traveling by bus. This bill does not apply to property of Amtrak or any partnership in which Amtrak engages.
This bill also establishes "Blair's Law" which states a person commits the offense of unlawful discharge of a firearm if that person, with criminal negligence, discharges a firearm within or into the limits of any municipality. This provision does not apply if the person discharges a firearm under the circumstances listed in the bill.
This bill also specifies that all sales of new and used firearms, firearm components, ammunition, and tools and components of making ammunition are exempt from state and local sales and use taxes.
The following is a summary of the public testimony from the committee hearing. The testimony was based on the introduced version of the bill.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this bill ensures a right to self- defense. Currently, law abiding citizens are prohibited from protecting themselves on public transportation. Criminals recognize public transportation as gun-free zones and take advantage of this. Criminals do not obey the laws, leaving law- abiding riders defenseless. Many people refrain from using public transportation because of a lack of means to defend themselves. Commuters are further stripped of their right to self-defense all day long if they must leave their firearms behind when they begin their commute at the beginning of the day.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Schnelting; Alan Gendron; Alan J Patriarca; Alan Shelby; Albert Vivero; Aletha Mcdaniel; Alexander W Wolston; Alicia Proctor; Andrew Moeckdl; Anthony Dalske; Anthony Friedrich; Arik Smith; Arthur J Braun; Arthur L Castile; Arthur M Buckowitz; Austin Scott Kelly; Bartle Glenn Watts; Benjamin Akers; Brian Allen Ketcherside; Brian Towsley; Caryn Giarratano; Charles Combs; Charles Groeteke; Charles Matlock; Charles Ray Batchelor; Chris A Woodbury; Chris Griesbaum; Chris L Moore; Chris Lewis; Chris Putnam; Chris Smith; Chris Snider; Christopher L Hazel; Cleve Blakely; Colonel Harold L Reidler; Craig Boling; Curtis D Thompson; Curtis Lewis; Dale Schwartz; Dan Schlechte; Dane Goff; Daniel Draffen; Daniel Kohr; Daniel Wehner; Dannette Young; Daryl Johnston; David A Traver; David Coulter; David J Tyrrell; David Lavin; David Muench; David Murphy; David Rea; Dean Wimpfheimer; Dee Ann Ducote; Dennis Walsh; Don C Freeze; Don Seib; Donald Blanchfield; Donald Bowman; Donald Bowman; Donald Lowther; Dorinda Kathryn Stayton; Dottie Boligloop Km; Dr. Frederick A Ruecker; Ed Abegg; Eddie Fritts; Edward Gordon Jr; Edward Readenour; Edward Roberts; Eric Doerfler; Eric S. Brimer; Erik Dierenfeldt; Floyd Lee Nunn II; Frank Van Berkum; Fred Ballinger; Friedrich Egene Rettig; Gammon Favreau; Gary Gene Webb; Gaylan Waterfallen; Greg Kleyman; Greg Leiendecker; Heather Dawn Gessley; Hoyt D Ussery III; James C Howing; James Colombo Sr.; James G Rhoden; James Hatfield; James Laughlin; James Tyler Merchant, DO; Janet Vessell; Jason Craig Stieneke; Jerry Perry; Jerry Riggs; Jim Sowash; Joe Ernst Jr; John Archer; John Bingham; John F Wiedner; John Fieser; John Guenzler; John P Sturm; John Robert Duchek; John Russwurm; John Stolte; Jon M Collings; Jonathan Lamb; Jonathan Shanker; Joseph C. Stuckenschneider Jr.; Joseph Mattli; Karel Beetge; Karl Arnold; Karl Meis; Keith Gross; Keith Urhahn; Ken Norman; Ken Watson; Kenneth Graff; Kent Kersten; Kristine Bishop; Lanette Gerau; Lawrence A Crain, Ltc(Ret), Usaf; Lee White; Leon E McKinney; M. Silva; Mark D Luther; Mark Libby; Mark Lutman; Martin Robbins; Matt Graham; Matt Schmidt; Matthew G. Wuellner; Matthew Peters; Michael D Wilson Jr; Michael Eads; Michael Herbstreit; Michael J Seevers; Michael Kleker; Michael Politte; Michael Seevers; Michael Tokar; Mike Lange; Mike Leible; Mike Skiles; Nelson W Scholl; Noel F. Eberle; Norman Guyer; Norvin Porter; Patrick A. Brackey; Patrick Casey; Paul C. Geisler; Paul Crouse; Paul Peters; Paul Wisner; Peter Kopystynsky; Peter Stoller; Philip Pugh; Rachel Peters; Ralph Lyndon Rogers; Randy Blankenship; Ray Jones; Rian Cerny; Richard Love; Richard Sodemann; Rick A Schlattmann; Ricky D Nocks; Robert; Robert Andrews; Robert Dale; Robert E Hitchcock; Robert J Larson; Robert Kirkpatrick; Robert Louis Emling; Robert Macek; Robyn Niemann; Roger Dorner; Roger Eads; Royal V Harp III; Russell Mullins; Ryan McGee; Scott Hawke; Scott Lanemann; Stacy Bright; Stanley Stuart Swafford; Stephen C. Filla; Stephen D Boyle; Stephen D Boyle; Steve Pletka; Steven Beck; Steven L. Bolds; Steven Weatherly; Steven Weatherly; Tammie King; Terry Brown; Terry McQuirk; Thomas Blackburn; Thomas Cullerton; Thomas James; Timothy Landwehr; Timothy M. Tamburrino; Timothy Ray Nolan; Timothy Timmerman; Vince Cuezze; Wally Dautenhahn; Warren D. Shepherd; Wendell E. Brown; Werner Joe; William Barkstrom; William C Corley; William Dill; William Menchak; William Robert Alvord; William Steffen; William Urteaga; Susan Myers; William W Bland, Western Missouri Shooters Alliance; Arthur Kohlberg; Barbara Ann Perkins; Barclay Rivas; Daniel R Ziegelmeyer; David Borkin Cade; Dennis Paris; Ed Snyder; Erik Skoog; Glenn Grayburn, Jr.; Gregory Wilhelm; James Depue; Jeff Mick; John David Stipek; John Lena; Joseph Miller; Joseph Roeslein; Kevin Gregory; Michael A Bauer; Mike Denatale; Paul Fischer; Randy Humphrey; Randy Reinecke; Richard Deiters; Rickford Counts; Robert Mills; Robert V Perrone Sr; Robert William Schlichter; Steve Kyle Korte; Steve Rivers; Steven Pfeil; Timothy W. Deevers; William Mccaulley; Arnie C. Ac Dienoff-State Public Advocate; Brian Nichols; Carl Brooks; Dale Carpenter; Dan H Rathgeber; Doug; Greg Modlish; Harold Cole; Jeff Blanner; Kevin Gromer; Lloyd Oliphant; Mark Moersch; Patrick B Madden; Ronald Lee Abernathy; William Evert Green; William F. Elkins; Dale Yankey, Arnold Rifle and Pistol Club; Mark Buckner; and the National Rifle Association.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that this bill will not enhance safety. This bill instead will weaponize disagreements and confrontations on public transportation, putting passengers at greater risk. Instead, security should be enhanced and guards should be armed. This bill would make riding public transportation more dangerous for the general public. This bill represents big government overreach and would take away from local public transit control.
Testifying against the bill were Alexander Horvat; Clarisse Teepe- Fryrear; Cynthia Fletcher; Erin Gray; Gregory B Bell; Ian K. Hornstra, MD, PHd; Jean C Knapp; Patricia A Scott; Sarah Quick; Susan Gibson; Emily Hornstra; Fred Dreiling, City Utilities of Springfield; Mike Winter, Missouri Public Transit Association; Greater St. Louis Inc.; City of Kansas City; and the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: