(Missourinet) – A new poll says about 86% of Missouri voters support a permit requirement for those who are allowed to carry a concealed gun in public.
Kevin Ahlbrand with the Fraternal Order of Police supports that requirement. State lawmakers plan to attempt a veto override next month on a bill that would eliminate Missouri sheriff departments’ power to decide who can carry concealed.
“Last year, over 1,700 applications were turned down by sheriffs. So, there are people who the local sheriffs obviously think should not be able to carry a concealed weapon that if this override passes, will be able to the next day,” Ahlbrand said. “If this override goes into effect, the sheriffs will have no say in virtually anyone that does not have a felony conviction will be allowed to carry a firearm concealed in Missouri.”
The poll was conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. Everytown says the results of the poll included residents of gun-owning households, which made up more than half of all respondents.
The poll also indicates that 63% of Missouri voters would be less likely to vote for a candidate who voted to eliminate Missouri’s permitting requirement.
“I believe this will be a huge officer safety and public safety issue. I think if this passes, we’ll have the most liberal gun laws in the country. Certainly, there’s a difference between the urban and the rural settings,” Ahlbrand said.
In a statement from Senator Brian Munzlinger (R-Williamstown), the sponsor of the measure, he says the bill will better protect Missourians.
“I am not surprised by the lack of transparency in this poll, resulting in sensationalizing inaccurate and misleading information,” Munzlinger said. “I, like millions of my fellow Missouri gun owners, don’t need an inaccurate poll paid for a New York City Billionaire who like Jay Nixon, supports Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama’s desire to disarm Americans and more specifically my fellow Missourians, to tell me that overriding Jay Nixon’s veto of SB656 is the right thing to do.”
Munzlinger represents northeast and north-central Missouri.
The legislature’s veto session starts September 14.