JEFFERSON CITY — Concealed-carry permit holders would be able to legally board MetroLink trains and buses with their firearms under the latest attempt by Republicans to further expand gun rights in Missouri.
Although the push to allow guns on public transit has failed to gain traction for at least six years, Rep. Adam Schnelting, R-St. Charles, said he hopes to guide the pro-gun legislation to the governor’s desk this year as he runs for a seat in the state Senate.
“This is not a partisan issue. Crime and violence don’t discriminate,†Schnelting told members of the House General Laws Committee Tuesday.
Schnelting, who is term-limited, said the legislation helps protect Second Amendment rights and allows for self-defense.
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The proposal does not apply to property of Amtrak. It also would lower the age to receive a concealed-carry permit from 19 to 18.
The measure also would allow for permit holders to carry guns in churches, a provision that is opposed by a number of church leaders.
And, it also would ease gun restrictions for current and former members of the Legislature and judges.
“There is a serious increase in the amount of violence against lawmakers, against judges,†Schnelting said.
A diverse group of opponents, including churches, have said the expansion is an invitation to more violence.
Michael Winter, a lobbyist for public transit systems in the state, said his clients remain opposed to loosening concealed-carry rules.
Rep. Peter Merideth, D-ºüÀêÊÓƵ, said his constituents who use buses and trains don’t believe they’d be safer if guns were allowed on public transit.
“Every one of them said that seems like a terrible idea,†Merideth said.
Supporters of the bill said people should be able to arm themselves in order to fight back against criminal activity.
In a message to its members, the National Rifle Association said it is unfair to bar riders when criminals ignore the prohibition.
“By repealing this prohibition, it will ensure that law-abiding citizens are not forced to choose between utilizing public transportation and exercising their Second Amendment Rights,†the organization said.
Last year, Bi-State Development Agency, which operates MetroLink, deployed two mobile metal detectors to keep guns off the light rail line.
While MetroLink rules bar passengers from carrying firearms, the number of guns seized by police and security personnel doubled in 2022 — to about 50 — from the 2021 total, officials said.
The concealed-carry measure is among at least three dozen firearms-related bills that have been introduced in the Legislature. In the House, the lion’s share are Democrat-sponsored proposals designed to address gun violence, which have little chance of passage in the Republican-controlled House and Senate.
Rep. Bishop Davidson, R-Republic, is sponsoring a plan to strip the sales taxes off guns and ammunition sales. It mirrors legislation floated last year that failed to win approval.
According to a fiscal analysis of Davidson’s proposal, the move could cost the state an estimated $31 million in tax revenue, while cutting $65 million in taxes for local governments, many of which use the proceeds to pay for police.
According to the FBI, there were more than 881,000 firearms purchased in Missouri from 2020 to 2023. An estimate by House researchers found that an estimated 146.6 million rounds of ammunition are likely to be affected by the tax change.
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