By Ellie Coatar and Miica Patterson
(MDN News) -- As Congress considers tightening federal gun laws in response to last year's school shooting in Connecticut, Republicans in the Missouri legislature moved Tuesday, Feb. 19, to limit the power of any new federal measures within the state's borders.
Missouri legislators heard several pending gun bills throughout the day Tuesday, including:
- A bill that would have required students and teachers to get annual gun training on how to respond to school shootings.
- Legislation that would make Missouri legislators felons if they propose bills that restricts gun laws.
- A proposed state Constitutional amendment that would allow citizens to bear arms to defend their families.
- A bill that would exempt guns made in Missouri from federal law and regulation.
- A measure that would make it unlawful to enforce federal law that restricts rights for guns made it Missouri that stay in the state.
The Senate gave first-round approval to the gun-education bill Tuesday. Originally, the bill would have required first-graders to view a National Rifle Association-endorsed gun-safety video and mandated active-shooter training for teachers, but the Senate amended the bill to make the education optional, after pressure from Democrats.
Early in the debate Tuesday, Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal, D-St. Louis County, said she was strongly opposed to the bill. She said there is already too much gun violence in urban areas and that legislators should focus on bills about gun control.
"There are people who don't care about a black life," Chappelle-Nadal said. "And they have legislation such as this that puts our citizens and our communities at risk, more than they already are."
Both House and Senate General Laws Committees heard gun-related bills on Tuesday. The Senate committee heard a proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution that would state citizens have the right to bear arms to defend their family as well as their home, property and their self.
Sen. Kurt Schaefer, the proposal's sponsor, said all rights under the Missouri Constitution are equal including the right to bear arms.
"Some of them (constitutional rights), because they may currently be less popular, are no less important," said Schaefer, R-Columbia.
Rep. Mike Leara, R-St. Louis, introduced a bill Monday, Feb. 18, that would make it illegal for Missouri legislators to propose legislation that would limit gun rights. If convicted, legislators would be class D felons, which is punishable by up to four years in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Leara refused to speak to Capitol reporters, but a released a statement Tuesday that said the bill was a symbolic gesture.
"I filed (the bill) as a matter of principle and as a statement in defense of the Second Amendment rights of all Missourians," said Leara in the statement. "I have no illusions about the bill making it through the legislative process, but I want it to be clear that the Missouri House
will stand in defense of the people's Constitutional right to keep and bear arms."
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