A measure that would allow people to carry concealed weapons on public transportation in Missouri is making its way through the legislature.
During debate its sponsor, Rep. Adam Schnelting, R-St. Charles, said Missourians have a right to defend themselves on public transportation, because 鈥渧iolence does not discriminate.鈥� Schnelting did not respond to 漏 2024 外网天堂鈥檚 requests for an interview.
鈥淚 believe that this legislation will discourage criminal activity on our public transportation systems, but more importantly, I believe it is necessary that we provide our citizens, our taxpayers, the ability for self-defense,鈥� Schnelting said.
The measure passed in the House last month and is currently making its way through the Senate, despite opposition from public transit officials from around the state, including in St. Louis.
Bi-State Development, which operates Metro light rail, buses and shuttles in the St. Louis region, does not allow weapons, even for its own security guards. The debate over arming its guards was raised again after a .
Bi-State President and CEO Taulby Roach said that he鈥檚 not opposed to improving safety, but that allowing citizens to carry guns is not the solution.
鈥淭ransit is not a good environment for concealed carry of weapons,鈥� Roach said. 鈥淎nd this idea is shared with many of our partners, including many of our senatorial partners who I鈥檝e talked to about this.鈥�
Sen. Brian Williams, D-University City, is actively opposed to the proposal, which moved out of the Senate鈥檚 General Laws panel last week. He said his constituents are tired of violence and don鈥檛 want more guns.
鈥淭his is a recipe for disaster,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚n fact, we鈥檝e already witnessed too many lives lost due to gun violence. But we continue to make it easier for guns to get into the wrong hands. The communities that I represent have suffered for far too long to stand by and continue to watch our friends, our neighbors and especially the children die as a result of lack of action.鈥�
Roach said there are circumstances in which 鈥渦ltimate deadly force鈥� is needed even on public transit. He said there鈥檚 been work to get more police officers, who are allowed to carry weapons, on Metro through partners in St. Louis County, the city and St. Clair County.
鈥淲e need that deadly force that comes with the training of a full badge, of a full professional police department,鈥� Roach said.
Still, Metro Transit presents a unique situation as its light rail and buses also provide service in Illinois, which does not allow concealed weapons on public transit. Bi-State Development is governed by a federal compact between Missouri and Illinois. That鈥檚 why Roach said even if Missouri's bill is signed into law, a similar bill also would have to be passed in the Illinois legislature, and another in Congress, which would then have to be signed into law by the president.
鈥淲e see it as one of those normal iterative legislative processes, where there will be debate,鈥� Roach said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e going to come to that debate and try to be as factual as possible.鈥�
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