The bill of the Missouri Republican Party aim to loosen more arms laws. Prosecutors say “they would legalize the murder” | Kcur

A Missouri Senate Committee is considering two bills that would repeal the limitations in transport and use of firearms.

Senate bill 74Sponsored by the Republican Senator of Stone Brad Hudson County, it would prevent cities and counties from imposing their own open transport restrictions.

If approved, the bill would be in conflict with local laws in the municipalities, including St. Louis. The Board of Councilors of St. Louis Voted to prohibit people without hidden transport permits of transporting firearms openly in 2023.

Mary Gross, a volunteer for the action of the demand of the moms, was among those who testified as opposed to the bill at a hearing on Monday. Gross said the bill would interfere with local autonomy, and that cities like St. Louis face different challenges and should be able to make their own rules.

“Consider the county where the sponsor of the bill, Stone County lives, has a population density of 70 people per square mile,” Gross said. “Calle. The city of Louis has a population density of 5,000 people per square mile.”

The other measure, Senate bill 147It contains a wide range of changes, including the manufacture of someone who uses a weapon in self -defense immune to prosecution or civil action.

The bill also includes a provision that someone who kills another person with a gun in self -defense would be reasonably acting, eliminating the burden of the evidence.

The sponsor of SB 147, the republican senator of the Jefferson County, Mary Elizabeth Coleman, has introduced similar legislation in recent years.

“We have heard so many arms bills again and again,” Coleman said. “This is what state law would be according to Mary Elizabeth Coleman.”

Police members and the justice system expressed opposition, saying that the bill would be equivalent to allowing people to kill without consequences.

“Everything you have to do is say that someone threatened me, and now I can kill them,” said Parke Stevens, of the Missouri Association Association. “This is not the state or the method to legalize murder.”

Sharon Geuea Jones, who testified as opposed to the Missouri Naacp, raised the case of Ralph Yarl, a 16 -year -old who was Filmed in Kansas City in 2023 After touching the wrong bell. The shooter, Andrew Lester, said he acted out of fear.

The Missouri resident, Susan Myers, spoke in favor of both bills. She said that eliminating restrictions would allow women to protect themselves better.

“Eliminating dangerous and mortal areas free of weapons from the Missouri statute remains the main priority for women of the state they carry by self -defense,” Meyers said.

Missouri already has some of the country’s less restrictive weapons laws.

The Committee approved a bill that would allow weapons in public transport at the same meeting.

The River City Journalism Fund supports the Statehouse internship of St. Louis’s public radio. Evy Lewis is the 2025 report intern. rcjf.org For more information about the fund, than sEEKS to advance journalism in St. Louis.

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