Missouri House Moves to Loosen Gun Rules

Republicans in Missouri spearheading a move to make the state a leader in defending second Amendment rights Thursday moved forward a bill to loosen gun restrictions, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported Friday.

The state House passed a bill that would reduce the minimum age to 21 from 23 to carry a concealed weapon. The proposed law also would allow all legislative staff to carry firearms in the state Capitol. Under current law, only legislators are allowed to carry guns.

State Rep. Jeanie Riddle, a Mokane Republican, sponsored the bill. She said during the debate that the measure would "mark Missouri as a leader and defender of Second Amendment rights."

It’s important that law-abiding people are not precluded from buying, carrying and using guns for security and freedom, she said. "It is the American way of life," she concluded.

The measure received strong support from both sides of the aisle, passing by an almost 4 to 1 margin in the House. The bill now moves onto the state Senate.