Mo. Leg. forgot to include parks as place off-limits to concealed weapons
Whether by design or oversight, failure of the Missouri Legislature to include public parks as one of the venues that may prohibit concealed weapons was a grievous mistake and should be corrected when the lawmakers convene in January. Park lands, as sanctuaries for family enjoyment–and as welcome oases for the busy, the tired and the weary–must be off-limits for guns.
City and county jurisdictions all over the state have for years banned firearms in parks, but now find their ordinances superseded by the 2004 conceal-and-carry law, which offers no protection for these tax-financed domains. Common sense restrictions on gunowner traffic when public safety is at risk, whether enacted by the state, by city councils or county commissions are not foreclosed by the Supreme Court’s decision in
District of Columbia v. Heller. No legal obstacle is in sight that could prevent the Legislature from amending the conceal-and-carry law to designate parks as off-limits.
The dark side to all this is that gun groups have already served notice that they will lobby against any change in the law, one group spokesman even warning lawmakers that “…(if you) leave us at the mercy of criminals, we’re going to vote you out of office.” That is intimidation of course. It is also nonsense. It is the kind of frontier phobia whose heyday was in the 19th century, and which died with the likes of Bill Hickok and Dave Tutt.
Surely we have progressed since then.
Whether it is Forest Park in St. Louis, Swope Park in Kansas City or the hundreds of smaller parks that dot our state’s landscape, the public has the right to use them, free from any anxiety that comes with the presence of guns. The parks belong to all of us.
Randy Gover
Springfield, Mo.
Yes, Randy, and when that mugger puts a 9mm hole in your head as you relax and enjoy your gun-free park be happy knowing he’s the only one around with a gun.
Randy, lets makes sure we let the gun toting criminals know for sure where they shouldn’t carry. After all, everyone knows that if the places you deem to be fun free then they will be safe as can be. Ask the kids at Virginia Tech where guns werent allowed.
Did they let you out again without your medication?
I was just in Queeny Park here in St. Louis county last Saturday, w/ my gun on me, and noticed the sign that said “No Weapons unless authorized by MO RS 571″ RS 571 is the conceal carry statutes.
Your anxiety from the presence of guns is in your head. I’m sure the criminals intent on doing any harm to your or yours will abide by every law that says “NO guns in the park” Believe that and you have other issues to deal with first. Do you look around and think “I wonder if they have a gun? or them? or those people over there?”
Relax Randy, legal CCW owners are the least of your worries.
BTW, OK to carry in Forest Park as well.
Randy - How many people have been shot in these parks by law abiding, conceal and carry gun owners? The answer is ZERO!
As a matter of fact, I can’t find one situation where any person with a conceal and carry permit has used his/her gun for criminal activity in a park or any other venue. If you can find one, please post it here so we can all review the case together. Gun crimes are committed by criminals, and the guns used in these crimes are usually illegally purchased or stolen from a home by robbers/thugs.
Gun control advocates are looking to place blame with people who follow the laws and don’t commit crimes. It’s also the insane liberal ideology that places blame on an object instead of the people committing these crimes.
Gun control will not reduce crime - My real world examples are Washington DC and Chicago. These cities have the strictest gun control laws in the country and they also have the highest gun crime rates. It’s common sense people…
You’d have to be stark raving crazy to go
to either of the parks you mentioned without a weapon.
Must be the city water in Springfield that made you looney Randy…
Can’t help but think about the 17 month old boy shot and killed last night while sitting in his father’s car….I guess the kid should have been packing. Stray bullets come from concealed Dirty Harry wanna-be’s whenever their testosterone levels vary….
What a great place to live.
Can’t help but think that the 17 month old wasn’t killed by a law-abiding, CCW legal citizen. Can’t help to think that the father of that child must have been up to something that wasn’t on the up and up or one of his homies wouldn’t have tried to put a bullet in him. Sad situation for sure, one that I know Garrison types would love to exploit.
“Dirty Harrys” aren’t your problem.
….the public has the right to use them, free from any anxiety that comes with the presence of guns. The parks belong to all of us.
- Randy Grover
Randy,I choose not to own a cat or dog. If you do, please do not bring your pet to the park. I don’t like stepping in pet droppings. I also don’t care for bicycles. A bicycle could hurt somebody if run over while enjoying the park. I would like to use the parks free from my bicycle anxiety. If you ride, please stay on the street and do not enter the parks that I have the “right” to enjoy. I also strongly object to body odor. Please shower immediately before coming to the parks that belong to all of us. And take it easy on the cologne/after shave while you’re at it.
Come to think of it, I have a few other pet peeves, so maybe you should just stay home so I can enjoy the parks that “belong to all of us.”
Didn’t know Looney was standing on the corner to witness the entire event.
Shoulda known it was da gold-tooth do-rag and crack hommies wit their welfare queen ho’s lookin for low-down easy score holdin da groins and 45’s….Whatup Bro?
17 month ol got what comin!
You are right Garrison. We read all the time about fine, upstanding citizens of our area fired upon by Dirty Harry wannabes with their brand new piece toting their CCW permit. I’m sure that is what this situation will turn out to be. A suburbanite, middle class white guy was frightened, and let the gun stand up for his lack of manhood and fired 13 times at the complete and totally innocent father of this child.