Missouri Senate Passes Comprehensive Firearm Reform Bill!

House Bill 294 Now Heads to the House for Concurrence

Today, the state Senator passed House Bill 294 by a 27 to 6 vote in an effort to bring vital reforms to Missouri’s law-abiding gun owners.  This NRA-backed bill will now go back to the Missouri House of Representatives for concurrence. Time is running out, so it is important that you contact your state Representative TODAY!

House Bill 294, sponsored by state Representative Jeanie Riddle (R-20), is a comprehensive firearm reform bill that would address a number of Right-to-Carry issues important to Missouri’s law-abiding gun owners.  Thanks to today’s vote on HB 294, residents are one step closer to lowering the requirement age to 21 years old the same as most other Right-to-Carry states.   This important reform would also make other necessary corrections regarding current state firearms laws, some of which are already covered under federal law. 

HB 294, including Senate committee amendments, would:

• Prohibit sales taxes on firearms or ammunition from being higher than those for sporting goods, sporting equipment, hunting equipment, and accessories;
• Allow residents to purchase long guns from non-contiguous states and vice versa by removing non-penalty merchandising practices provisions;
• Lower the concealed carry age to 21;
• Allow a person to possess, manufacture, transport, repair, or sell a machine gun, short-barreled rifle or shotgun, or firearm suppressor if he or she complies with federal law;
• Create the crime of fraudulent firearms purchases if a person knowingly solicits, persuades, encourages, or entices a licensed dealer or private seller of firearms or ammunition to transfer a firearm or ammunition under circumstances which the person knows would violate federal or state laws; and
• Enable members of the General Assembly and their staff who possess valid concealed carry endorsements to carry a firearm for self-defense in the Capitol.  

There are only TWO DAYS left to send this major firearm reform bill to Governor Jay Nixon’s desk! Please contact your state Representative TODAY and urge him or her to support House Bill 294 before Friday’s deadline!  To locate your state Representative and his or her contact information, please click here.