SCS/SB 675 - This act establishes an application procedure to obtain a permit to carry concealed firearms and allows retired prosecuting attorneys, circuit attorneys, peace officers and Missouri state court judges to carry concealed weapons without a permit.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE: An individual may obtain an application through the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The patrol takes one set of fingerprints of the applicant for a background check. The applicant must provide personal information including a physical description and his address for the past five years. The applicant must also sign an affidavit stating that he is mentally competent and whether he has received mental health treatment. If he has received such treatment, the patrol may review such treatment records.

The individual must meet various criteria including: 1) no criminal record; 2) no history of alcohol or drug abuse; and 3) completion of at least sixteen hours of firearms training.

The applicant must pay a fee of $150, $100 of which goes to fund police officer training programs. A permittee must renew the permit every five years and pay a renewal fee of $20.

DENIAL OF PERMIT: The Highway Patrol may deny a permit if: 1) the applicant does not meet one or more of the criteria necessary to obtain a permit; or 2) the applicant lied on his application. The Patrol may also revoke or suspend a permit if the permittee no longer satisfies any of the requirements necessary to obtain a permit.

Upon denying an application, the Highway Patrol must, within thirty days after the application has been submitted, notify the applicant of the denial, and his/her right to appeal the denial.

A person whose application is denied may appeal the denial to the small claims court. If the denial is upheld by the small claims court, the applicant may request a trial de novo from the circuit court.

CRIMINAL LAW CHANGES: It is no longer a weapons violation to carry a concealed firearm if a person has a valid permit to carry such firearm.

The crime of carrying a firearm while intoxicated is restricted so that it is only a crime if a person possesses and discharges or brandishes a firearm while intoxicated.

Those who carry concealed firearms may not carry firearms into places of worship, schools, election precincts on an election day, or any government building. Violation of this provision is a Class B misdemeanor. Rendering a false statement on an application to carry a concealed firearm is a Class D felony.

QUARTERLY REPORTS: The Highway Patrol shall compile reports on the number of concealed carry permits processed, denied, suspended or revoked as well as the number of permit appeals filed. The Highway Patrol shall also compile information as to the number of permittees who are convicted of crimes. An annual report of this information shall be presented to the Governor and General Assembly.
JAMES KLAHR