HCSHB485--CONCEALEDFIREARMSINCHURCHES
SPONSOR: Baker
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonEmergingIssuesbyavoteof10to4.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
485.
Thisbillallowstheconcealedcarryingoffirearmsinchurchesand
otherplacesofworshipbyapersonwithavalidconcealedcarry
permit.
ThisbillissimilartoHB1698(2022).
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisbillensuresthe
constitutional righttobeararmsisnotstrippeduponenteringa
placeofworship. Lawabidingcitizensshouldnotbestrippedof
therighttoself-defenseinordertoenteraplaceofworship.
Religiousleadershavevoicedtheirsupportforthisbill.
Further,eachchurchandplaceofworshipmaystillexercisetheir
privatepropertyrightstoexcludefirearmswiththeplacingofa
signiftheyfeelitisappropriate. Concealedcarrypermit(ccw)
holdersareaforcemultiplierforsecurity. Thisbillremoves
churchesandplacesofworshipfromliabilityandregulation,
allowingeachplaceofworshiptomaketheappropriatedecisionfor
themselves. Fortyotherstatescurrentlyallowforthecarryof
firearmsinchurches.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Baker;Susan
Myers;WilliamBland;Edward(Tony)Shepherd,ABATEForMissouri;
RoyceBarondes;andIkeSkelton.
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythatchurchesandplaces
ofworshipareinoppositiontothislegislation. Thephysical
spaceofachurchshouldreflectaspiritofsecurityandsafety;
theproliferationofgunsinchurchesdoesnotaccomplishthis.
Thisbillbypasseschurchleaders'abilitytodecidehowbestto
handlepracticesontheirpremises. Thisisadecisionbestleft
toeachindividualplaceofworship,nottotheGeneralAssembly.
ThisbillisaninfringementontheFirstAmendment. Further,this
billisunnecessary. Churchleadersarealreadyempoweredtodo
whatthisbillpurportstoseektoaccomplish. Thisbillseeksto
addressaproblemthatdoesnotexist,andinsteadcreates constitutional andsafetyproblemsofitsownintheprocess. This
billdirectlyandnegativelyimpactsthelifeandconductoffaith
leaders.
TestifyinginpersonagainstthebillwereMissouriCatholic
Conference;J.T.Young,MomsDemandActionForGunSenseIn
America;Rev.PerrinCrouch;BrianKaylor,Word&Way;andNimrod
ChapelJr.,MissouriNAACPandMissouriBaptistProgressive&
MinorityConvention.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.