Missouri Stands Behind Right to Own Firearms with New Law

According to a recently published State of Missouri Governor's press release, the state of Missouri is continuing to stand behind the belief in the second amendment and legal right which allows residents to defend themselves and their families in case of a home invasion or an attack.

Due to this, the Missouri legislation today asked Governor Matt Blunt to address the issue in his January State of the State Address and remind residents of their right.

Governor Blunt stated, "Americans maintain a deep reverence for their Second Amendment freedoms. The law I signed reinforces those freedoms and ensures law-abiding Missourians will not be punished when they use force to defend themselves and their families from attacks in their own home or vehicle."

The legislation that takes away the requirement that victims must attempt to flee when they are attacked in their homes before they can legally use force to defend themselves or their families from an attacker is known as the "Castle Doctrine." In addition, the legislation also allows Missouri residents to be free from legal problems, civil suits, or criminal charges if they are forced to defend themselves with a weapon while being attacked in their homes.

Aside from the letting residents use force against attacks and keeping them free of legal problems, the law removes the requirement that Missouri residents get a weapon permit from their county sheriff in order to buy and possess a concealable firearm in their home. However, permits and general background checks are required by the federal government before a person can purchase a concealable weapon.

State congress believes that having this process of county permits and background checks is unnecessary hassle and a waste of time for law abiding citizens in the state who need a concealable weapon to protect themselves, their family, and their homes. The state feels that residents who have good backgrounds should not have to be targeted as criminals simply because they want to feel safer and keep their family by having a firearm in their home.