Public safety in Missouri is adversely affected by a lack of basic and foundational gun laws. Students must take action by staying informed and engaged when new gun legislation is being proposed.
In the wake of increasing gun violence tragedies in America, it is imperative that the strength of gun laws be evaluated in every state. There have currently been 164 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2023, according to the crowd-sourced Mass Shooting Tracker, and the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in 2020 was firearm-related injuries, according to the New England Journal of Medicine. There is a massive gun violence problem in this country, which is perpetuated by a deplorable lack of restrictions and safety precautions placed on gun ownership. And despite having some of the weakest gun laws in the country, the Missouri legislature has rejected opportunities to improve firearm safety, calling into question the integrity of Missouri’s representatives.
In a country with more guns in circulation than people, gun violence is a serious — and uniquely American — problem that can be linked back to relaxed gun laws. According to the Center for American Progress, states that received an “F” grade from the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence based on the strength of their gun laws, including Missouri, saw a 25% higher homicide rate than states with “C” or “D” grades. Missouri’s weak gun laws make it less safe for residents, necessitating stricter gun policies.
Missouri’s gun laws are incredibly weak, and firearm ownership is popular in the state, with 48.8% of Missourians saying they own a gun, according to the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit and nonpartisan think tank and research institute. This places Missouri in the top 20 states for gun ownership. The state with the highest percentage of gun ownership is Montana at 66.3%, and the states with the lowest rates are Massachusetts and New Jersey at 14.7%. According to Everytown for Gun Safety, an organization that conducts research and engages in activism and education about gun violence, Missouri fails to have the foundational gun laws that protect the public. The organization defines foundational gun laws as background checks and/or purchase permit, a permit requirement for concealed carry, a law that allows a judge to remove a gun from someone who poses an extreme risk, a law that prevents people from shooting their gun in public to kill if they can safely walk away from the situation, and a secure storage or child access prevention requirement.
In addition to foundational laws, other gun laws such as those involving sales and permitting, restrictions on who can possess guns and guns in public spaces are lacking. The state does not require notification of failed background checks or an emergency restraining order prohibitor, as well as many other examples. There are very few protections in place, leading to incredible violence and easily accessible weapons. About 600 people die on average every year by gun homicide in Missouri. According to the National Institute of Justice, a majority of mass shootings in the U.S. are committed using legally obtained weapons. This troubling rate of gun violence committed with legally obtained firearms warrants a serious change in regulation.
Despite the clear and present need for tougher gun laws, Missouri’s conservative state legislature continues to prevent progress toward improved public safety. In February, the conservative Missouri legislature rejected a provision of House Bill 301 that would ban minors from carrying guns in public without adult supervision. The provision was originally included in bipartisan public safety legislation, but the proposal was rejected 104-39. Republicans overwhelmingly voted against this bill and have tried to prevent other common-sense gun-related legislation from taking effect.
While it is understandable as to why someone may want to own a gun, a society with safe gun ownership relies on the quality of gun laws. Students can take action by staying informed about developing gun legislation in the news. If new, harmful legislation is being proposed or positive legislation is at risk of being blocked, students can contact state representatives to voice their opinions. Their information can be found on the www.house.mo.gov website listed under “Members.” Students can also register to vote in elections. By researching the ballot and voting for candidates who support strengthening gun policy, steps toward improving Missouri’s gun violence problem can be taken. Gun laws affect everyone in the state, and it is necessary that, as young voters, Generation Z positively shapes the political future of states like Missouri by prioritizing public safety.
Edited by Molly Gibbs | mgibbs@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Kyla Pehr and Lauren Courtney