HB 1220: 63 Percent of Missourians Say Felons Should Not Be Allowed to Own Guns; HB 1250: 76 Percent Oppose Changing Law to Allow Concealed Carry Without Permit
Jefferson City, MO — Ahead of today’s House Select Judiciary Committee hearing on HB 1220, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action released new polling of likely voters in Missouri (available here) that indicates broad opposition to allowing felons to own guns (HB 1220) and to allowing concealed carry without a permit (HB 1250.) Among the poll’s findings:
- 63 percent say no felons should be allowed to own a gun.
- 55 percent are less likely to vote for a candidate who supports allowing certain felons to be allowed to own a gun.
- 76 percent of all voters – including 72 percent of gun owners and 72 percent of concealed carry permit holders – oppose changing the law to allow people to carry concealed handguns without a permit.
- 63 percent of voters statewide – including a majority of gun owners and concealed-carry permit owners – would be more likely to vote against a candidate for public office who supported changing Missouri law to make it legal to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.
“This poll underscores what Missourians have long known – that our right to bear arms goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous people,” said Erin Gregory of Kansas City and a volunteer leader with the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, which has more than 48,000 supporters in the state. “It’s just common sense – we should not pass laws that let dangerous criminals own or carry concealed, loaded guns in public. As Missourians and as moms, we call on our lawmakers in Jefferson City to stand up to the Washington gun lobby and reject these dangerous bills.”
House Bill 1220 would allow a broad range of convicted criminals to legally own guns under Missouri law. If H.B. 1220 became law, certain convicted felons—including people convicted of manslaughter, drug trafficking, child sex trafficking, and sexual assault—would no longer be prohibited from owning guns under Missouri law. More information on HB 1220 is available here.
House Bill 1250 would dismantle Missouri’s concealed weapon permitting system, allowing people to carry concealed, loaded guns in public without a permit or firearm safety training. By removing Missouri’s concealed weapon permit requirement, HB 1250 would eliminate some of Missouri’s public safety laws—including those that prohibit people recently convicted of assault or multiple drug crimes from carrying concealed weapons. More information on HB 1250 is available here.
About Everytown for Gun Safety
Everytown is the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million supporters and more than 40,000 donors including moms, mayors, survivors, and everyday Americans who are fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and help save lives. At the core of Everytown are Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a grassroots movement of American mothers founded the day after the Sandy Hook tragedy. Learn more at www.everytown.org and follow us @Everytown
About Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is a grassroots movement of American mothers fighting for public safety measures that respect the Second Amendment and protect people from gun violence. Moms Demand Action campaigns for new and stronger solutions to lax gun laws and loopholes that jeopardize the safety of our children and families. Since its inception after the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Moms Demand Action has established a chapter in every state of the country and along with Mayors Against Illegal Guns is part of Everytown for Gun Safety, the largest gun violence prevention organization in the country with more than 2.5 million members and more than 40,000 donors. For more information or to get involved visit www.momsdemandaction.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MomsDemandAction or on Twitter at @MomsDemand