Senator Jamilah Nasheed Files Pro-Life Gun Bill
JEFFERSON CITY – State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, introduced pro-life legislation to help prevent gun deaths by requiring individuals seeking to purchase a gun to undergo a stronger background check, a 72-hour waiting period and to receive medically-accurate information on gun injuries and death.
“Anyone who is pro-life and believes that we need to defend life and promote a culture of life here in the state of Missouri should support this legislation to help end gun deaths,” said Sen. Nasheed. “It’s time we take action to prove that America loves its children more than it loves its assault weapons. This is not a partisan issue. This is a human issue. Let’s work together to meet our thoughts and prayers with action and change.”
Senate Bill 1026 would strengthen background checks by requiring a person purchasing a gun to pass a background check by the Missouri State Highway Patrol and to not be found mentally incompetent at the time of purchase, or for ten years prior to application. The bill would also require the purchaser of the firearm to have their mental state evaluated before the purchase can become final.
Senate Bill 1026 would also match Missouri’s access to guns laws with Missouri’s access to abortion laws.
In 2014, the Missouri General Assembly implemented legislation requiring a 72-hour waiting period before a woman seeking an abortion could receive the abortion. Senate Bill 1026 would implement a 72-hour waiting period before a person seeking to purchase a gun could finalize the purchase.
In 2017, the Missouri General Assembly also implemented legislation requiring a physician who performs an abortion to have the woman sign state-printed materials which say “[t]he life of each human being begins at conception. Abortion will terminate the life of a separate, unique, living human being.” Senate Bill 1026 requires firearm sellers to have purchasers sign a form pledging they have read state-printed materials that say “[t]he life of each human being matters. Firearms may terminate the life of a separate, unique, living human being.” Other provisions protecting the privacy of the person seeking to purchase a gun can be found in the full text of the bill here.
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