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

State senator looks to stiffen gun-possession laws

JEFFERSON CITY — A Democratic state senator wants to require parents of children in public schools to notify their school district of how many guns the family owns.

Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal prefiled the measure in advance of the Legislature’s regular session that begins in January. The St. Louis County Democrat’s plan would also make negligently storing a firearm a state crime.

“We want to make sure we have safe environments and that our students and their families are also safe,” she said.

If a child obtains a firearm and unlawfully carries it to school or commits a crime with the weapon, its owner would be charged with a misdemeanor. If death or injury occured from using the gun, the owner could be charged with a felony.

Rep. Doug Funderburk, R-St. Peters, the sponsor of legislation last year that would have attempted to block enforcement of federal gun control laws, said he wouldn’t support Chappelle-Nadal’s bill. He said it infringes on an individual’s right to own firearms.

Chappelle-Nadal sponsored similar legislation last year. It received a hearing in the Senate General Laws Committee, but no further action was taken. Her proposal is unlikely to gain traction in a Legislature dominated by Republicans.

A top Senate Republican is also pushing for legislation next year that would attempt to nullify federal gun laws and subject law enforcement officials who enforce those laws to civil penalties.