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Agenda Setting : Missouri Gun Control

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Agenda Setting: Missouri Gun Control Peyton Flewelling University of Missouri at Columbia Agenda Setting: Missouri Gun Control The efforts of gun control advocates have been undermined largely by the persistent presence of those arguing the 2nd Amendment protects their Constitutional right to bear the majority of arms in almost every setting. This has occurred despite an ever-changing social climate, where gun violence occurs daily. Automatic, semi-automatic, and assault weapons have become commonplace and account for more than half of the guns used in mass shootings since 1982 (Follman, Aronsen, & Pan, 2016). Advocacy groups, such as Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, have formed in response to the high…show more content…
Laws regulating the use of guns in America have been a hot topic for years. Media coverage of mass shootings, acts of terrorism in and outside of the United States, and stories of families being murdered in the night has resulted in a desensitized, or perhaps, overly sensitized nation. People are scared and have centered their idea of safety on one of two main approaches: creating stricter gun laws so less crime occurs, or taking away gun restrictions so everyone can protect themselves against crime. Policies stemming from these vantage points begin by the agenda set by pertinent support and opposition groups, reflecting these approaches. Policy In 2013 House Bill 533 passed, expanding gun rights and declared any federal gun laws enforceable in the state of Missouri. It also lowered the concealed carry age from 21 to 19 years of age and allowed weapons less than 16 inches long in areas prohibiting open-carry firearms, as long as the owner had a firearms permit (Missouri bill would nullify all federal gun control laws, 2013). Though vetoed by Governor Nixon, Senate Bill 656 passed last year after being overridden by the Senate 21-6 and the House 112 to 41. SB 656 now allows people to carry concealed guns in public without a permit. Previously, to obtain a permit, passing a background check with the Sheriff’s department and completing a firearms training course was necessary. This is no longer the case (Abreu, 2016). And, while gun
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