JEFFERSON CITY 鈥 Republicans in the Missouri Senate on Tuesday pushed for a state takeover of 狐狸视频鈥 police department and a special prosecutor for the city as Democrats railed against the state鈥檚 relaxed gun laws.
The debate in the upper chamber had been a long time coming after House legislators approved the special prosecutor plan in February and state takeover in March.
On Tuesday, Republican senators unveiled their own legislation that includes a special prosecutor plan as well as the state takeover, which would occur on Aug. 28.
Senate Republicans paused debate on the measure shortly after 8:45 p.m. Tuesday without taking action.
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Proponents have said they are trying to address violent crime in the city of 狐狸视频, but opponents say Republicans are ignoring the state鈥檚 relaxed gun laws.
鈥凌别肠别苍迟濒测 released its list of the most dangerous cities in the United States. For the second consecutive year, the city of 狐狸视频 was listed No. 1,鈥 said Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville.
鈥淭here can be no doubt that a significant contributing factor is the utter failure of 狐狸视频 Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner to bring violent criminals to justice,鈥 he said.
The plan for a special prosecutor has been viewed as a lighter lift than the state takeover, especially as Republican megadonor Rex Sinquefield works to kill the latter.
Lobbyists for the Sinquefield-backed group Missouri Future are against the state takeover.
鈥淚f we don鈥檛 take back state control, there will be no Missouri future,鈥 said Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance.
Sen. Steven Roberts Jr., D-狐狸视频, said if state control worked, Kansas City, which is still under state control, wouldn鈥檛 have any crime.
鈥淭o truly make our streets safer, we鈥檝e got to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of children and dangerous people,鈥 Roberts said. 鈥淭his debate over city of 狐狸视频, local control of our police department, is a distraction and an excuse.鈥
Roberts proposed an amendment to outlaw possession of a handgun by minors in certain situations. He said the measure federal law, which already prohibits handgun possession by individuals under 18.
Republicans killed the amendment.
The GOP went on to kill another amendment, by Sen. Doug Beck, D-south 狐狸视频 County, that would bar guns from individuals if they appear on the Terrorist Screening Center鈥檚 No Fly List, or if the person is a member of a group 鈥渢hat engages in or has a subgroup that engages in international or domestic terrorism.鈥
Under the Senate plan, the governor would be able to name a special prosecutor who would have concurrent jurisdiction over various violent felony cases, including first- and-second degree murders, assaults and robberies, as well as vehicle hijacking and armed criminal action.
A separate plan moving in the Legislature would bar Gardner from running for circuit attorney again if she is removed from office due to a lawsuit lodged against her by Attorney General Andrew Bailey.
The legislation is .
To hear floor debate on the measure, go to