Posted on 03/10/2004 3:09:16 PM PST by neverdem
Concealed carry law goes into effect
ROGERSVILLE--With the Missouri State Supreme Court upholding the conceal and carry law, local law enforcement personnel say the crime rate may drop as a result.
"In the 31 states that have conceal and carry laws, all the crime statistics I've seen would indicate that the crime rate has gone down as a result," said Webster County Sheriff Ron Worsham.
"I've always supported the law. I've covered too many homicides where I've had to dig up victims of a crime, especially young women. I firmly believe that if they had a way to defend themselves, many of them would be alive today. I've always encouraged my daughter to carry a loaded weapon in her car in plain sight," Worsham said.
With the law in effect, anyone over the age of 23 years old who has not been convicted of certain crimes, can carry a concealed weapon in their vehicle, Worsham said.
"Before it had to be in plain view. Now it can be concealed," Worsham said.
Worsham said that the new law has many restrictions for permit holders.
"I'm not sure there's a big advantage to having a permit. Once people find out the hassle there is to go through, it might be better to not have a permit. There are a large number of places where you cannot carry a concealed weapon - churches, bars, government buildings - people may find it simpler to put it in car and forget it," Worsham said.
With the law now in effect, Worsham said it would not change the way his department approaches drivers, who may now be carrying concealed weapons.
"The possibility of someone having a concealed weapon is part of the training everyone receives at the academy. (The deputies) are supposed to approach every vehicle as if the driver has a loaded weapon. It shouldn't change the way they approach (a pulled over vehicle)," Worsham said.
Worsham said that his department has received 14 applications since the Supreme Court upheld the law.
Court rules law Constitutional
The Missouri Supreme Court recently ruled that the state's new conceal-and-carry law is not unconstitutional. The law goes into effect Friday.
According to Webster County Sheriff Ron Worsham, the new law will allow most people 23 years old and older to carry a concealed weapon in their vehicle.
"They can't have a felony conviction or some misdemeanors which prohibit a person from carrying a concealed weapon for up to five years," Worsham said.
The sherrif's department has a list of locations giving classes necessary to obtain a permit. The county may hold them in the future, Worsham said.
"I have to talk with the county commissioners to see if our insurance can cover the courses," Worsham said.
If the county does hold the training courses, a tentative fee for the training will be approximately $88, which will include the cost of the required background check, Worsham said.
The law authorizes sheriffs to charge a non-refundable fee not to exceed $100 for permits. Renewal of the three-year permit may cost up to $50. The concealed-carry permit will be endorsed on a driver's license or state-identification card.
Those taking the course would be eligible to purchase the license for $50, Worsham said. Until the issue of insurance coverage is resolved, Worsham said his office can answer questions and take applications.
Under the new law, sheriffs are required to submit information to the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System.
Worsham said the permit can be suspended or revoked if the holder violates any of the requirements for qualification for concealed carry.
Any person issued a concealed-carry permit must notify the department of revenue and county sheriffs of both the old and new jurisdictions of residence within 30 days of moving. If a concealed-carry permit holder loses their driver's license they must notify the sheriff of the loss within seven days, according to Worsham.
Part of the application process associated with the new law requires sheriffs to conduct fingerprint and background checks on applicants, Worsham said. It was scheduled to take effect in October, but a St. Louis judge ruled that the proposed law violated the state's constitution.
The state Supreme Court overturned that ruling last week, but question regarding of whether or not the law violates the Hancock amendment are still unanswered, Worsham said.
The Hancock amendment prohibits the state from imposing an unfunded mandate. According to the amendment, the state cannot impose any new or expanded activities on counties or municipalities without providing state funds to pay for the new programs.
The concealed-carry law includes a fee of up to $100 for the permits, but it required the fees to be deposited in a fund that by law can only be used to pay for training and equipment, not personnel costs.
Jackson, Cape Girardeau, Greene and Camden Counties presented evidence before the court that processing the applications will cause substantial increased costs in those counties. The Supreme Court ruled that the law does violate the Hancock amendment in those counties. The court, however, refused to assume that other counties would incur extra costs as well.
Officials in Greene County could not be reached for comment.
For further information, contact the sheriff's office at 859-2247.
©Ozarks Newsstand 2004
Additionally, City Council is recommending to all businesses in the KCMO environs that they too prohibit concealed carry in their establishments..
I'm sure it will be the same in St. Louis, possibly Springfield and Jefferson City as well.
The anti-gunners will try to ban guns from all major population centers, thereby making the law null and void for all practical purposes..
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