KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a letter to the Missouri General Assembly, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters-Baker expressed her concern about the wording of Missouri Senate Resolution 36, which is meant to strengthen Missouri’s protection of a citizen’s right to bear arms.
Peters-Baker is concerned about the unintended consequences the wording could pose.
“The proposed language has the potential to give gang members, drug dealers, domestic abusers and other criminals a right to carry guns,” she said.
She says criminals will seek protection under SJR-36 to carry guns.
In a YouTube video from GoGateWay.org, Missouri Senator Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, explained the change.
“What we’re doing with this joint resolution is adding some language. It currently says ‘The right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property is a right that exists,’ but we’re adding to that is the right to keep and bear arms and we’re adding the words ‘ammunition and accessories typical to the normal function of such arms.’ Also to the things that you can use arms to defend, which already in the Constitution is home, person and property, we are adding the word ‘family’ to that,” said Schaefer.
In her letter to Rep. Timothy Jones, Peters-Baker states:
“The Constitution and laws of our State already protect the hunter, the lawful citizen, and those acting in self-defense. This Resolution provides them no new protection. Unfortunately the only ones that stand to benefit from this new language are gang members, drug dealers, domestic abusers, and other criminals.”
Click here to read the full letter.
