Today: Governor Nixon Vetoed SB 656, a Bill that Would Have Allowed People to Legally Carry Hidden, Loaded Handguns in Public Without a Permit or Safety Training; 76 Percent of Missourians Oppose Permitless Carry
SB 656 Also Would Have Allowed People to Shoot to Kill in Public, Even When They Can Clearly and Safely Walk Away from the Danger
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement applauding Governor Jay Nixon’s veto of SB 656, a dangerous gun bill that would have dismantled Missouri’s concealed carry permit requirement and let some violent criminals, certain repeat drug offenders, and people with no firearms safety training carry hidden, loaded handguns in public. SB 656 would also have upended Missouri self-defense law and allowed people to shoot to kill in public places, even when they can clearly and safely walk away from the danger. The bill would have made Missouri the first new Stand Your Ground state since 2011.
STATEMENT FROM BECKY MORGAN, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER LEADER WITH THE MISSOURI CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“In the wake of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history this month, Governor Nixon showed true leadership by vetoing SB 656—a dangerous bill that placed special interests ahead of the wishes of a majority of Missourians and put public safety at risk. Moms worked with gun violence survivors, mayors and other community leaders this session to make phone calls, write editorials, host events and testify at the statehouse to ensure Missouri did not become a state that lets dangerous people carry hidden, loaded handguns in public or turns everyday conflicts into deadly encounters by emboldening people to shoot rather than resolving disagreements in other ways. And now, we are dedicated to making sure Governor Nixon’s message holds—SB 656 would make the every day in Missouri more dangerous.”
This session, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, a part of Everytown for Gun Safety, released a television ad urging Missouri lawmakers to reject SB 656. In addition to the ad, the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action drove hundreds of calls in to legislators’ offices urging opposition to permitless carry, Stand Your Ground, and guns-on-campus bills, testified in House and Senate committee hearings in opposition to these dangerous proposals, gathered thousands of petitions signatures urging the Governor to veto the bill and in February, more than 80 volunteers met with lawmakers to show their support for common sense gun safety measures and opposition to dangerous bills like SB 656.