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
The debate over gun control has been raging through the American political systems for years. On one side, there is the National Rifle Association (NRA) and 2nd Amendment-citing citizens who use their firearms for hunting and self-defense. On the other, there is Handgun Control Inc. (HCI) and followers of the Brady Campaign who want to ban guns on the basis that they are dangerous. Both sides have strong arguments, anchored in historical precedent and statistical analysis. Anti-gun control lobbyists’ arguments include the guarantee of the 2nd Amendment, the definition of “militia” as any adult male, self-defense, the relative uselessness of permits and regulations, and court cases in favor of firearm possession. Pro-gun control activists
With new years day, 2017, Missouri Senate Bill 656 went into effect. A highly contentious change to previous laws, it was vetoed by Jay Nixon, who was in turn overridden by Republican--and one Democrat--state senators. The primary function of the bill, though certainly not the full extent, is to allow all Missouri residents the right to carry firearms concealed in public without a liscense or training. While pro-gun and pro-gun-control advocates both have their laundry lists of arguments and rebuttals, most of what the public hears about gun rights is mere rhetoric, design to sound appealing. For a true understanding of changes in gun laws, the 2nd Amendment must be understood. Senate Bill 656 is a step forward in regards to the 2nd Amendment
Right now, twenty six state allow you to carry a firearm of any type without a permit for them. You can walk anywhere at anytime with any type of firearm in your own pocket without knowing how to shoot it at all. People nowadays get to carry a firearm and a permit with it because of this amendment and because of the court case District of Columbia v.
I find it shocking that civilians in both Missouri and Georgia (the state I choose for the discussion board) do not need a concealed carry license and permit for a firearm. I think there needs to more restrictions on who should be allowed to obtain a gun and the requirement to have a concealed carry license and state permit for their weapon(s). This could be a potential factor in what can complicate a firearm investigation by not knowing if the person in possession of the gun is the legal
Guns are one of the most controversial and debated-upon topics in America today. In the Constitution, Americans are given “the right to bear arms,” and many Americans are proud of and believe strongly in that right. Though, that right has been constantly misused. Homicides by gun are at a higher rate in the United States than any other country in the world, mass shootings are at an all time high (many of which have occurred in the past two years alone), and terrorism has been at an all-time high. So, naturally, it is a topic that needs to be discussed. In the articles Change Your Gun Laws, America (1), author Fareed Zakaria provides the readers with some harrowing statistics on guns and insight over how the U.S. laws on guns need to be managed.
To begin, Missouri is one of the worst states for gun control laws. The Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence gave Missouri an F for gun violence, and out of all the states“Missouri ranked 39th out of 50 – having enacted few gun violence prevention laws.” (“Missouri State Law Summary.”) The thing is, that Missouri HAS disallowed the permit to purchase, the registration, and the licensing to owners of all guns. The problem is, is that even though you are not allowed to carry a rifle or shotgun around, you can carry a handgun around, which is what has
The Second Amendment has given the right to individuals to keep and bear arms since December, 15th 1791. Even though this has been in the Constitution for 223 years, the issue of gun control and the right to concealed carry has been a growing issue in the United States. Whether citizens should be allowed to legally carry a gun has been a growing debate. In this paper, I will talk about the history of concealed carry, the different types of issuances among the states, and how to obtain your concealed carry license in Wisconsin along with providing concrete evidence with different statistics and stating the pros and cons of the issue.
(Handgunlaw.us). Today, carrying a concealed weapon everyday has become increasingly commonplace in areas all over the
Concealed carrying should be legal, as it is an American right. There are four types of
Concealed carry is the law that lets citizens carry a hidden gun. All fifty states allow concealed carry. Montana’s requirements to get a permit are “Must be eighteen years old, must live in the state for at least six months, and must be a U.S citizen” (MDOJ). The law in Montana says, “ No weapons concealed, or otherwise are allowed on school grounds” (MDOJ). The same goes for banks, and anywhere where drinks are being sold. To have the right to carry a concealed weapon, people have to have a permit, and a background check (MDOJ). The law also says “ if a Montana resident wants to know if their permit is valid in another state they must check with the specific state in which they want to carry a weapon in” (MDOJ). That means that your permit
Every day in America, we hear it on the news. Another person shot. Another murder. Another mass shooting. Gun violence has become the Black Plague of the 21st century. Just in 2017, the total number of gun violence incidents reached 61,593. Our current laws and restrictions do very little to curb these numbers, and restrict very little in the means of purchasing a gun. Our laws need clearer borders suited to modern times and modern weapons. Our 2A rights were written in 1787. We are now in 2018. These laws are antiquated, not written for a society with assault weapons. Adjusting laws poses a challenge because so many oppose changing our 2nd Amendment. A compromise needs to be reached if
Concealed Carry Laws are in place to issue concealed carry weapon permits to citizen who want the right to bear arms. Americans who are full believers in the Second Amendment. Some states do not allow citizen to carry concealed weapons, other states have “may-issue” laws leaving the permits to be the responsibility of law enforcement agencies who have the job of approving or denying applications. The law enforcement agencies can investigate an applicant’s criminal record before issuing a permit (“Concealed Carry” 1). Most states have “shall-issue” laws having it so law enforcement agencies issue concealed carry licenses to any person who applies unless they have a specific reason, such as a felony record. In 1998, 31 states established “shall-issue” laws for concealed weapons and by 2010, 6 more states hopped on the bandwagon (“Concealed Carry” 1).
In America guns have been a part of the country’s society since it’s birth. Throughout history the citizens of the US have used firearms to protect the nation, protect their families, hunt for food and engage in sporting activities. The issue of Guns and gun control is complex. Weighing the rights and liberties of the individual against the welfare and safety of the public has always been a precarious balancing act. In the United States, gun control is one of these tumultuous issues that has both sides firmly entrenched in their positions. Those parties in favor of gun ownership and the freedom to use and keep arms, rely on the fact that the provision for such rights is enshrined in their constitution. In this climate of
Hidden carry laws tells us the practice of carrying a weapon, such as a handgun, in public in a hidden way. Currently, there is no law created by the federal government covering the problem of hidden carry permits; instead it is covered by the states. All fifty states have laws in the books allowing people that serve a specific function, educational institutions, hospitals, churches, and businesses where you can purchase alcohol. Some states allow private property to post signs forbidding concealed carry. Supporters of these “gun free zones” contend they lower the chance of criminal activity
Now, a little background on conceal and carry and how it came to be allowed in Illinois. Jacob Sullum states, “In December of 2012 the U.S. Court of Appeals ordered Illinois to take away its ban on conceal and carry.” According to Sullum, the Court ruled that it went against the second amendment, the right to bear arms. So in July 2013, Illinois became the last state to allow conceal and carry. The Illinois law is a “shall issue” policy, giving police no choice to deny a permit. This means that if you are at least 21, have a firearms owner identification card (FOID), a clean record, and completed 16 hours of training, your application for conceal and carry will be