The Legislature is attempting to fix problems with Schaefer's Amendment 5... but it's not going too well

Submitted by Grace on Fri, 04/17/2015 - 14:58
Last year, Sen. Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia)'s poorly-drafted and misguided Amendment 5 put some of Missouri's most common-sense gun laws at risk. Prosecutors that warned against it have, unfortunately, been proven right. So now what now?
 
Some GOP House members are working to "fix" the problem... only their "fix" would still allow felons to own guns under Missouri law.
 
The NRA-endorsed bill (HB 1220) makes it illegal for "violent felons" to own guns, but excludes the following crimes from the definition of “violent felonies,” thus making it offically legal for offenders of these crimes to own a gun under Missouri law:
  • Attempted Rape in the First Degree (when no injury results)
  • Attempted Forcible Rape in the First Degree (when no injury results)
  • Deviate Sexual Assault
  • Sexual Assault/ Rape in the Second Degree
  • Statutory Rape in the First Degree (unless victim under 12)
  • Statutory Rape in the Second Degree
  • Abusing an Individual through Forced Labor
  • Trafficking for the Purpose of Slavery, Involuntary Servitude, Peonage, or Forced Labor
  • Trafficking for the Purposes of Sexual Exploitation
  • Sexual Trafficking of a Child
  • Voluntary Manslaughter
  • Involuntary Manslaughter
  • Assault in the Second Degree (unless a special victim)
  • Assault in the Third Degree
  • Domestic Assault in the Second Degree
  • Domestic Assault in the Third Degree
  • Assault while on School Property
  • Assault of a Law Enforcement Officer in the Second Degree § 565.082
  • Felonious Restraint
  • Child Abduction
  • Invasion of Privacy in the First Degree
  • Infanticide
  • Promoting Prostitution in the First Degree
  • Promoting Prostitution in the Second Degree
  • Promoting Prostitution in the Third Degree
  • Promoting Travel for Prostitution
  • Robbery in the Second Degree
  • Arson in the Second Degree
  • Knowingly Burning or Exploding
  • Causing Catastrophe
  • Use or Possession of Metal Penetrating Bullet During the Commission of a Crime
  • Sexual Exploitation of a Minor
  • Promoting Child Pornography in the First Degree
  • Promoting Child Pornography in the Second Degree
  • Possession of Child Pornography
  • Repeated Cross Burning
  • Rioting
  • Promoting a Civil Disorder in the First Degree
  • Making a Terrorist Threat
  • Killing or Disabling a Police Animal
  • Trafficking Drugs in the First Degree
  • Treason
  • Supporting Terrorism

This bill came about because of a court ruling based on Schaefer's poorly written Amendment 5 that made it legal for felons to possess guns in Missouri.

Missouri needs gun laws that make sense and allowing guns in the hands of felons just doesn't.

Tags: 
Gun Safety
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