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kdsub -> RE: Alright, I am a gun owner, but even I think this is nuts. (9/16/2016 11:27:32 AM)
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Below is from the Post Dispatch today saying what many Missouri law enforcement think of the new law.
• County sheriffs still will issue state permits after applicants pass training courses, but they’ll have less power to refuse them for reasons of an applicant’s history with law enforcement — even if they don’t have disqualifying convictions. Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke said he probably refuses a dozen requests a year from people in his county, where more than 6,000 residents have permits.
“I have no problem with the original law,” said Toelke, who is retiring Dec. 31 after 28 years as sheriff. “I could refuse a permit for somebody who has had frequent contact with the law, or who is a suicide threat. Now that person will be able to carry a concealed weapon, and that concerns me.”
• Applicants can seek lifetime permits for $500 if they don’t want to face the five-year renewal requirement. But lifetime permits aren’t valid outside the state.
Another key change is in the definition of “stand your ground,” which generally protects a person using deadly force to defend his or her home or vehicle. The new law no longer requires people to attempt to back away from trouble in public, as in a tavern parking lot, before using deadly force if there is fear of bodily harm.
Toelke said that part of the law “is going to have to be pinned down more” for deputies who are called to public disruptions.
Kevin Ahlbrand, legislative director for the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police, raised similar concerns. His organization opposed the override. He noted that sponsors of the bill admitted to some of the flaws in debate, but promised to “fix it next year.”
“This is not some type of banking regulation, this is public safety and law enforcement safety,” Ahlbrand said. “To pass a bill that they know there are problems with is unconscionable.”
He is concerned about the status of the few local restrictions left, and fears that some rural legislators don’t understand urban challenges.
“Our biggest fear is criminals who have not been convicted of a felony but are engaged in criminal activity will be legally carrying guns, and we’re now going to have to assume everyone is armed,” Ahlbrand said. “When we show up to a scene and there are five guys with their guns out, what do we do?”
St. Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson said the new law “will leave (citizens) less safe, and make the job of law enforcement more difficult and put our officers in danger.” Dotson also said that eliminating the required training courses necessary for permits means there will be people carrying concealed weapons who don’t know how to use them.
“You just assume everybody knows how to use a gun, but how many people accidentally shoot themselves?” he said. “You have to show us you know how to drive a car, but don’t have to show us you know how to shoot a gun.”
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