Missouri: Open carry and armed teachers

[Perd Hapley]

The General Assembly passed a bill, late last night, for (qualified) open-carry preemption, arming teachers, lowering the CCW age to 19, etc. The bill passed by very large majorities in both houses, so I'm hoping that any veto will be overridden. Our governor is a tool a Democrat corrupt, but he may let it go w/o signing it.

Open carry, sans permit, is currently legal in Missouri, subject to local ordinance. This bill would mean that permit-holders could safely ignore such local annoyances. Not perfect, of course, but a step in the right direction.

We had an open-carry preemption bill (for permittees) a while back, but the bill also contained language nullifying federal gun laws. I'm actually glad this bill had no such language, or I fear this new bill would have died, as well. Just a guess, on my part. They can always pass another nullification law later on.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/missouri-lawmakers-sends-gun-bill-to-governor/article_fd81e3c1-a5f8-597b-9b8d-81920412ede7.html

And there is my former (St. Louis County) police chief, Tim Fitch. Awesome statement from him:

But supporters, like former St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch, say not every school can afford a full-time officer, and most deaths happen before police arrive. That's why he says arming school personnel is the only answer.

"One of my fellow police chiefs made a comment one time that more guns isn't the answer. When I said to him, 'then what is your answer because we've tried everything else…' there's generally a blank look on the individual's face, because they don't' have an alternative," said Fitch.

http://www.ksdk.com/story/news/politics/2014/05/15/missouri-teacher-gun-bill/9156777/ (auto-play video)

I always suspected Fitch was progressive on the gun issue, as his department was very cordial with me, when I applied for my CCW permit, and they charged no fee for renewals. I think he also made some pro-gun comments a while back.

[MillCreek]

But of course, as APS has so clearly demonstrated time and time again, teachers are uneducated, incompetent, pedophiles, statist union scum, so surely they cannot be trusted with firearms. 

[Perd Hapley]

But of course, as APS has so clearly demonstrated time and time again, teachers are uneducated, incompetent, pedophiles, statist union scum, so surely they cannot be trusted with firearms. 

APS has pretty much the same opinion of the people at large (aside from the Pedophiles' Union), and we're pretty much against any type of gun control outside of prisons and mental facilities.

[MillCreek]

APS has pretty much the same opinion of the people at large (aside from the Pedophiles' Union), and we're pretty much against any type of gun control outside of prisons and mental facilities.

I would have to correct you on this, Mr. Fistful!  As APS has so clearly demonstrated time and time again, IT is where it is at.  The rest of us can only yearn to become IT some day.

[Perd Hapley]

I would have to correct you on this, Mr. Fistful!  As APS has so clearly demonstrated time and time again, IT is where it is at.  The rest of us can only yearn to become IT some day.

Or greenhouse/nursery managers.

Or online moccasin salesmen.

[Ben]

Always good news to see gun rights observed.

Fistful - what's the big city culture in your part of the world? Would open carry be somewhat hassle free, or would it be kinda like PA, in which it seems you're good until you get to Pittsburgh, where local LE apparently likes to ignore state law?

[Perd Hapley]

Always good news to see gun rights observed.

Fistful - what's the big city culture in your part of the world? Would open carry be somewhat hassle free, or would it be kinda like PA, in which it seems you're good until you get to Pittsburgh, where local LE apparently likes to ignore state law?

I really don't know, as I don't spend much time in the city, itself. I'm not a big fan of the St. Louis City police being state-run, but I guess in this case it might help. In places where it's legal, I've never seen any non-police carrying openly, that I recall. I'm sure some of the suburban police departments around here will try to get away with stuff, though I've heard rumors the St. Louis County police are more enlightened on the topic. If true, I suppose they might have some influence (though perhaps not in the city, which is its own county).

Personally, I'm not sure if I'll carry openly at all. Certainly not until I get a retention holster.

[Perd Hapley]

Well, OK, to be honest? I will most likely carry openly at least once, just because. 

[MillCreek]

We have had open carry for years now in Washington, and I don't think I have carried openly more than a couple of times, and those were in rural areas.  In my day-to-day life, concealed carry works better.

[Joe Demko]

I'm a teacher and if my carrying entails an expectation of my protecting anybody but me, there will have to be a renegotiation of my contract.

[Perd Hapley]

I'm a teacher and if my carrying entails an expectation of my protecting anybody but me, there will have to be a renegotiation of my contract.

Yeah, let the kids defend themselves with their own guns. Little freeloaders.

Or what exactly do you mean?

[lee n. field]

Yeah, let the kids defend themselves with their own guns. Little freeloaders.

Or what exactly do you mean?

not getting paid to be an armed guard.

[Joe Demko]

I mean that if I am expected to be an on-site first responder, I expect to be indemnified and compensated. As it stands, if I don't break up a fight, I can expect to be called on the carpet for failure to maintain a safe environment. If, on the other hand, I get hurt or hurt someone else breaking up a fight, I can expect to be left twisting in the wind legally and financially. People in my profession get called a lot of ugly names and accused of a lot of awful things on boards like this.  We also hear that public education should be abolished pretty frequently. Yet, you still expect us to die for your kids.

[Perd Hapley]

I mean that if I am expected to be an on-site first responder, I expect to be indemnified and compensated. As it stands, if I don't break up a fight, I can expect to be called on the carpet for failure to maintain a safe environment. If, on the other hand, I get hurt or hurt someone else breaking up a fight, I can expect to be left twisting in the wind legally and financially. People in my profession get called a lot of ugly names and accused of a lot of awful things on boards like this.  We also hear that public education should be abolished pretty frequently. Yet, you still expect us to die for your kids.

Well, lie down with dogs...

Do you teach in Missouri?

[Joe Demko]

Been a couple years since I posted here, mainly because you are just so noisome.  I expect I can go a couple more.

[mtnbkr]

Since we're getting personal, I'm closing this.

Chris