Free Republic

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,...

Round One of the court fight over concealed weapons went to gun opponents Friday when a St. Louis judge ruled that the law violated the Missouri Constitution.Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer ruled that a 10-word phrase in the state constitution's Bill of Rights banned the carrying of concealed weapons.The section at issue says that people have the right to bear arms “but this shall not justify the wearing of concealed weapons.”“This is a direct limitation on the inherent power of the legislature to regulate the manner, time and place of the citizens' right to bear arms,” Ohmer wrote. “To read the...

ST. LOUIS (AP) - A St. Louis judge on Friday permanently barred Missouri's concealed guns law from taking effect, saying it violates the state constitution.The ruling by Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer made permanent an injunction against the law, which lawmakers approved in September by overriding a veto by Gov. Bob Holden. A statement from Ohmer said the law violates Article I, Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution that states the right to bear arms "shall not justify the wearing of concealed weapons.''A spokesman for Attorney General Jay Nixon did not immediately know if an appeal was planned. Nixon was expected...