The has passed legislation that would lower the age for getting a concealed firearm permit from 23 to 21.
The conceal-carry language was added onto . The bill's Senate handler, (R, Williamstown) says lowering the concealed permit age to 21 would bring Missouri into line with most other states.
鈥淚t just provides a way for our legal, law abiding citizens (to) protect themselves from criminals who don鈥檛 obey the laws,鈥� Munzlinger said.
The bill passed 27 to 6, mostly along party lines. All six 鈥渘o鈥� votes came from urban and suburban Democrats from St. Louis and Kansas City. (D, St. Louis) is concerned that lowering the concealed permit age could result in more gun violence.
鈥�(The bill's supporters) make the justification that we send our kids to war at 18 and all of that, but you know, those kids go through years of training," Keaveny said. "Some of these kids that are in some of my neighborhoods don鈥檛 have the discipline and the family values that we instill in these guys before we send them to war.鈥�
The bill now goes to the , with just two days left in this year鈥檚 session. If it passes there, it will go to for his signature or veto.
Missouri鈥檚 concealed carry law first took effect in 2003 when the General Assembly overrode former veto.
The National Rifle Association says Missouri's age restriction is the highest among states that allow concealed gun permits.
This year's bill also would allow state officials and their staff to carry concealed guns in the if they have permits.
