ST. CHARLES, MO – Sponsor of House Bill 436 Rep. Doug Funderburk, R-St. Charles, committed today to work with Senator Leader Tom Dempsey, R-St. Charles, Majority Floor Leader Ron Richard, R-Joplin, and Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Washington, on a new bill defending Missourians’ Second Amendment rights.

“I agree with the Senate’s efforts to improve what was contained in my House Bill 436, relieve concerns over possible errors, and put a bill defending Missourians’ Second Amendment rights on the governor’s desk at the beginning of next session,” said Funderburk. “This issue is important to all of us, and I appreciate Sen. Dempsey, Sen. Richard and Sen. Nieves’ commitment to the constitution and good public policy. Because the governor and the attorney general belong to a different political party from the majority in the House and Senate, we have to get this bill right from the start. With that in mind, I welcome the continued input from our law enforcement and prosecutors to ensure that this bill supports their efforts to fight crime while also protecting our citizens’ right to lawfully bear arms.”

Dempsey responded, “I appreciate Rep. Funderburk’s willingness to continue to champion this important issue and his desire to work with Sen. Richard, Sen. Nieves and myself next session on a robust gun bill that clearly protects the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of the Show-Me State, but does so in a manner that does not tie the hands of Missouri’s law enforcement community, including our locally elected sheriffs.  Sen. Richard, Sen. Nieves and I both have a deep respect for the constitution and the oath we have taken to defend it. The continued threat to our essential liberties from a hostile administration in Washington demands a response. The Missouri General Assembly will rise to the occasion.”

Bill handler, Sen. Nieves said he’s disappointed with the outcome of the bill, but he looks forward to working with Rep. Funderburk and Sen. Dempsey and Sen. Richard in the coming months.

“It is frustrating to watch the continued violation of our right to keep and bear arms,” said Nieves. “While I echo many of the sentiments of Rep. Funderburk, we must move quickly on a new, improved bill also making sure we don’t sacrifice any of the cornerstone Second Amendment liberties. I want to ensure all Missourians continue to have those fundamental rights.”

Richard commended the efforts of both law enforcement and Second Amendment advocates saying, “Our men and women in law enforcement deserve our respect and gratitude for their service. I know  they will continue working with us to correct some possible conflicts in the original bill. Perhaps as much as any other group of professionals, these men and women in uniform are passionate about defending us from those who wish to restrict our Second Amendment rights. I also invite our constitutional experts and concerned citizens alike to provide input as to how we can best inoculate ourselves from out-of-touch bureaucrats and defend our state’s sovereignty under the 10th Amendment.”

“When the majority party works and stands together, we get results for the people of Missouri,” said Funderburk. “Three gun bills were passed this year, including one to reform the CCW process after the governor and Department of Revenue were caught breaking the people’s trust and illegally transferring information to the federal government. The beginning of the new legislative session is right around the corner, and I look forward to joining my colleagues in the Missouri Senate on starting immediately to draft a new bill that we can all be proud to sign.”