[Missouri Governor] Holden vetoes House concealed gun measure

KMBZ.com ^ | Thursday, July 3, 2003

[TroutStalker]

WEBSTER GROVES, Mo. (AP) - Gov. Bob Holden vetoed a concealed weapons bill Thursday, but the sponsor of the legislation remained confident it will become law.

Holden signed the veto in suburban St. Louis - an area of the state that played a big role in defeating 1999's Proposition B, a ballot measure that would have allowed Missourians to carry concealed guns. Seventy-eight percent of the voters in this community voted against it.

"You and I clearly agree putting more guns in people's hands does not reduce crime,'' Holden said over catcalls from about one dozen pro-gun protesters. At one point they chanted, "One-term Bob!'' while the governor spoke.

Holden said he had several concerns about the bill, such as inadequate training requirements; no provision for a gun safety refresher course; and lack of an adequate database to make sure the mentally ill can't get weapons. He also said that under the proposal people convicted of misdemeanor domestic abuse would be allowed to carry weapons.

Both the House and Senate supported a bill that would allow people 23 and older who have taken handgun training courses to apply to their county sheriffs for concealed gun permits. The bill also allows anyone 21 or older to conceal guns in the passenger compartment of a vehicle without a permit.

The veto comes just two days after Jonathon Russell walked into the Jefferson City plant where he worked and began shooting, killing three people and wounding five others. He later killed himself.

"He went into a workplace where even the security guard wasn't armed,'' said Rep. Larry Crawford, R-California, sponsor of the House version of the concealed weapons bill. "He knew that law-abiding citizens there couldn't be armed, and that gave him the upper hand.''

Crawford said rallies in several towns in support of the concealed weapons bill, scheduled for Thursday, were canceled out of respect for the victims of the Jefferson City shooting and their families.

Lawmakers will consider overriding the veto in September. Crawford was confident there are plenty of votes to override in the House. And although it will be close in the Senate, he felt the override would pass there, too.

"We think that hangs on one lawmaker who could switch his vote,'' Crawford said. "We think we have that vote.'' Crawford would not identify the potential swing voter.

Supporters say the 2003 version of the concealed weapons bill is substantially different than the 1999 ballot proposal, which lost by a 52-48 percent vote, largely because opponents in the St. Louis and Kansas City areas outnumbered supporters outstate. The new version includes additional safeguards such as fingerprinting for criminal background checks.

Crawford said people feel differently now. He noted that three more states - Minnesota, New Mexico and Colorado - adopted concealed weapons laws this year.

National Rifle Association spokeswoman Kelly Hobbs said 35 states already have measures similar to the one proposed here, and others allow concealed weapons in some circumstances.

Crawford said the law would make Missouri a safer place and give criminals something to think about.

"Right now, Missourians are forced to leave their homes unprotected, and criminals know that,'' Crawford said.

Opponents said the law would lead to more bloodshed, not less.

"What we've seen from other places is that it is more likely that someone will be injured either in anger or by accidental discharge by having more small weapons available than the unlikely event that crime will be deterred,'' said Vicky Riback Wilson, D-Columbia.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The veto comes just two days after Jonathon Russell walked into the Jefferson City plant where he worked and began shooting, killing three people and wounding five others. He later killed himself.

Isn't it amazing how these sorry nutbags crawl out of the woodwork at the most opportune moments for the gun-grabbers?

[TroutStalker]

For your list, Joe. I hope he gets his veto handed back to him with an override.

[goldstategop]

On to the override vote in the fall. And its time for Missourians to work to make Bob Holden a one term governor.

[phasma proeliator]

Ping

[TroutStalker]

Holden is not liked much at all in Missouri. He may face a challenger in the next primary.

[George Smiley]

"What we've seen from other places is that it is more likely that someone will be injured either in anger or by accidental discharge by having more small weapons available than the unlikely event that crime will be deterred,'' said Vicky Riback Wilson, D-Columbia.

Count the number of things that are just flat-out untrue in the above-referenced statement...

[goldstategop]

If a CCW law was in place, this dirtbag would have been stopped cold before three innocent people were killed. But for liberals like Holden, its not Jonathan Russell the murderer's fault, its all those pesky law abiding gun owners who want only to defend themselves from the likes of him. How dare they!

[goldstategop]

Liberals just lie. And when you catch them in an untrue statement they will keep on lying.

[SaltyDog]

When are these NUTS going to wake up to the fact that the places with the tightest gun laws have the most crime. Oh excuse me, I thought I was refering to people to whom facts make a difference. Another senior moment!!!

[basil]

I can't count that high! LOL!

[dd5339]

I hope the lawmakers stuff this veto up "One term Bob's" backside.

Semper Fi

[Joe Brower]

[newgeezer]

"What we've seen from other places is that it is more likely that someone will be injured either in anger or by accidental discharge by having more small weapons available than the unlikely event that crime will be deterred,'' said Vicky Riback Wilson, D-Columbia.

Tell that to the families of Jonathon Russell's victims, "Vicky." Start with the survivors of the ones he killed.

[rface]

One-Term-Bob......Bump!

[Saundra Duffy]

Good God Almighty - I grew up in Missouri. Everyone had guns. It's infuriating when the "powers that be" try to CONTROL us. When I was a kid, we NEVER locked our doors; there was no crime; and as I said everyone had guns. Missouri has gone to the dogs. Missouri folks should be marching in the streets over this, demanding their gun rights. Sheeeeeesh.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

But for liberals like Holden, its not Jonathan Russell the murderer's fault, its all those pesky law abiding gun owners who want only to defend themselves from the likes of him. How dare they!

My bet is OTB and his cronies were doing high-fives all around when they heard the news.

[ExSoldier]

"lack of an adequate database to make sure the mentally ill can't get weapons."

What about the ability of mentally deficient people to hold elective office?

[need_a_screen_name]

Isn't it amazing how these sorry nutbags crawl out of the woodwork at the most opportune moments for the gun-grabbers?

A few years ago Neal Knox wrote about this very phenomena. You can count on many shootings happening this next year right before the so-called assault weapons ban is about to sunset. Truth is stranger than fiction.

[Mo1]

it does seem like a pattern