St. Louis Beacon - County Council delays action on bill dealing with gun safety

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County Council delays action on bill dealing with gun safety

By Jo Mannies, Beacon political reporter

Posted 9:24 am Wed., 1.20.10

St. Louis County Council chairman Barbara Fraser has opted to delay final passage of a bill aimed at protecting children by, among other things, requiring safety measures for any guns in their homes.

The bill has prompted some outrage from gun-rights proponents, who claim that it violates a state law barring most local restrictions on guns beyond what the state allows.

Fraser said at Tuesday night's council meeting that she was sending the bill to the council's Justice and Health Committee so it can be further scrutinized. "This bill does require a thorough review....Certainly we want this bill to be legal,'' Fraser said.

Fraser, a co-sponsor of the bill, is a member of the panel, as is the sponsor, Councilwoman Hazel Erby,D-University City. Also on the committee is Councilwoman Colleen Wasinger, R-Town and Country.

Fraser, who is running for the state Senate, reaffirmed her earlier contention that the bill has nothing to do with guns. "This is about protecting our children," she said.

Comments

#1 Nick Kasoff 2010-01-20 12:46

Obviously, Fraser and Erby do not know how to read. It is as plain as day that what she proposes is prohibited under Missouri law - and here's the law:

RSMO 21.750. 1. The general assembly hereby occupies and preempts the entire field of legislation touching in any way firearms, components, ammunition and supplies to the complete exclusion of any order, ordinance or regulation by any political subdivision of this state. Any existing or future orders, ordinances or regulations in this field are hereby and shall be null and void except as provided in subsection 3 of this section.

In case you are wondering, subsection 3 simply says you can pass an ordinance which "which conforms exactly" with several extant state laws, or which regulates open carry. That's it.

Fraser and Erby should stop wasting the time and resources of our county on this illegal scheme, and start dealing with issues within their statutory authority.

#2 Dan Johanningmeier 2010-01-20 13:22

I agree 100% Mr. Kasoff

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