(UnitedVoice.com) – In 2017, Missouri passed a constitutional carry law allowing people to carry concealed weapons without a permit or background check. In February, lawmakers in the state House voted against an effort to limit where minors could carry weapons. Months later, a mass shooting at a party killed one teen and injured several others in St. Louis. Now, the mayor of the city says she’s going to limit guns.
On August 22, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones (D) announced her plans to ban so-called military-grade weapons. She said a bill will be introduced at the Board of Aldermen prohibiting guns like the AR-15 and AK-47. It will also seek to stop people who are underage from obtaining firearms, place restrictions on ghost guns, and try to stop random gunfire on holidays.
The Board of Aldermen meets next on September 15. They could consider the bill as soon as they meet again. Jones claimed several members of the board support the legislation, saying in a statement that they came “together around a shared vision” to make the city safer and stronger.
The mayor blamed Republicans for dismantling gun laws and trying to block the city from enacting its own regulations. However, she claimed people in her city wanted her to take action. Jones told the press that she’s “ready to fight like hell […] to prevent gun violence, protect our babies and keep our communities safe.”
According to STL Today, five aldermen — Daniela Velázquez, Pam Boyd, Shameem Clark Hubbard, Alisha Sonnier, and Tom Oldenburg — stood with Jones when she made the announcement. St. Louis is consistently named one of the deadliest cities in America. It’s currently the city with the highest murder rate, with 69.4 murders per 100,000 people. The next city behind it is Baltimore, Maryland, with 51.1 murders per 100,000.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) responded to the mayor’s plans, saying he’s going to “resist any effort to infringe” on the state’s Second Amendment rights.
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