New Missouri Laws Are Now In Effect

As of Jan.1, the controversial gun legislation is in effect.

gun laws in Missouri

In Missouri, a controversial gun law passed that took effect on January 1, 2017. Constitutional Carry allows all residents of Missouri who are 21 and older to legally carry guns on their person. The people must be legally allowed to own guns, and if they are, they are allowed to carry then wherever they are currently allowed to open carry in the state.

There are 10 other states that have constitutional carry laws. The law that passed also allows local judges and prosecutors to carry a firearm for self-defense while they are on the job. They have to get approval from their governing body for the permission to carry at work, however.

Missouri’s law is following up on a “Stand your ground” law that also took effect earlier in 2016. This means that people in Missouri can use deadly force without retreating if they feel that they are being exposed to a reasonable threat.

Why is the Missouri law controversial? Opponents believe that the open carry laws and concealed carry laws are too permissive, because criminals or people who should not be legally allowed to have guns will feel that they can get away with carrying. If the average person sees someone carrying a gun, they don’t know that that person is allowed to have a gun, legally permitted, trained and responsible.