South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

Lawmakers override governor’s veto of gun bill

Measure allows school officials to carry arms

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri House members put the finishing touches on completely overriding Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of a controversial gun bill early Thursday morning.

Just before 2 a.m., the House put its bipartisan stamp of approval on the bill with a 117-39 vote.

Speaking against the bill, Rep. Stacey Newman, D-St. Louis County, said the bill is not about making the streets safer.

“Today, you are big government,” Newman said. “This bill is about you.”

Rep. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, disagreed.

“The Second Amendment is for the populous to defend themselves,” Brattin said.

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed the bill in July and took issue with the provision that arms teachers and administrators if they pass specialized training.

“I have consistently opposed the arming of teachers as a means to keep schools safe,” Nixon wrote. “It is simply the wrong approach, and one that I do not support.”

The bill also lowers the conceal-carry age from 21 to 19 and prohibits cities from banning open-carry laws, even if they already have such laws.

The Senate overrode the veto Wednesday on a straight party-line vote of 23-8.