Missouri Lawmakers Train With Firearms, Push Legislation To Carry Concealed Weapons In Capitol

Missouri Lawmakers Train With Firearms, Push Legislation To Carry Concealed Weapons In Capitol

Lawmakers in Missouri are packing heat.

The Kansas City Star reports that state legislators are taking firearms-training courses and pushing legislation that would allow them, as well as their aides and employees, to carry concealed firearms into their workplace -- the Missouri State Capitol building.

"If you stay up with your news and what's going on in the world, you know bad things happen all over the place," Rep. Jeanie Riddle, a Republican representative who sponsored the amendment to allow concealed carry permits to apply to the statehouse told The Kansas City Star. "It would be nice for us to not be a statistic."

A comprehensive firearms bill, which includes the amendment to allow Capitol employees to bring their guns to work -- after completion of a training course -- passed 125-19 earlier this week.

Opponents of the legislation complained about the GOP-led bill, particularly a proposal in the bill that would lower the minimum age for a concealed-carry permit from 23 to 21.

"I know there are a lot of people that bring weapons into the statehouse. I can't help that. It's their right and privilege under the law," Rep. Tom McDonald, a Democrat, told The Star. "But extending that to 21-year-olds and giving kids that age the privilege to carry a gun leads to bigger problems."

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