Missouri lawmakers have passed dangerous legislation regarding the possession of guns whether concealed or not.  Effective  January 1, 2017, all citizens of Missouri can carry concealed weapons without getting the proper training and certification.  Also dangerous is the sweeping  allowance it gives to carrying a concealed weapon.  The past practice in Missouri for getting a permit to carry a concealed weapon was to go through an investigative process with the Sheriff in the county of applicant’s residence.  This at least provided for some background checking to see whether that applicant is legally and mentally fit to be allowed a concealed carry permit.

Under the new law the  permit process is made ineffective; and not a requirement to carry a weapon.  This law allows without scrutiny, training or notification for individuals to carry a concealed weapon.  They include:

• Those who have pled guilty to felonies but received a suspended imposition of sentence (regardless whether it involved gun related violence)
• 18 year old high school students
• A person charged but not convicted yet of certain felonies (The danger here is Defendant get’s a gun and harms others pending his/her trial)
• A person who is has two or more misdemeanors  DUI within the last five years
• A person with two or more misdemeanors (drugs) conviction within the last five years.

     The social concern as well that in many urban areas which is constantly under stress from police stops, the police officers will presume that that black male will be in possession of a weapon. Constitutional violations of stop and frisk will become more commonplace. We have already seen the result of suspicious police shootings and the rise of protest coupled with violence.  A mere raising of a cell phone could now be considered probable cause to take a young man’s life. It also creates an environment of suspicion among the citizens.  Can you imagine how quarrels would be settle? Instead of walking away cooling down, there will be shootouts. The latest statistical data of gun violence in the St. Louis area bears this out.  Without proper training, the innocents are at great risk.  Missouri should be ashamed in allowing the safety of it’s citizens to be gunned down because of the need to show some implicit “strength” of constituency  to conservative members of congress both State and Federal.  I also find it rather interesting that in the same session where this law was passed, Missouri passed a law restricting the voting rights of it’s citizens (Showing a “Governmental I.D.)   A bit of warning to the ones that will carry weapons. This is Missouri only.  If you cross state lines and don’t have the proper credentials, you may be in danger of going to jail.