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For Immediate Release |
Contact: Eunice Deeds |
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Police, Crime Victims Safer After Missouri Legislators Override Law enforcement support critical to passage of Missouri's new law Jefferson City, Missouri - This afternoon, shortly before 3:00 p.m. central time, the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) applauded the latest state to pass legislation allowing law-abiding citizens to have the choice to carry a firearm on their person, concealed, for self-defense. Today the Missouri state legislature overturned Governor Bob Holden's veto of legislation that would allow Missourians to join the other almost 40 states in America to trust its citizens with self-defense. The override vote today was historic since the legislature has voted to override the governor less than ten times in nearly150 years! In a surprising turn of events, more members of the House voted on 9-10-03 to override the veto (115) than voted for passage on the original bill (110). On 9-11-03, 23 Senators voted to override the veto when only 22 voted for passage of the original bill. While applauding the legislature's action there is sharp criticism of the Governor and the media's coverage. Speaking from Jefferson City, James J. Fotis, Executive Director of the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) said, "This legislature, with this strong override vote, has sent a clear message to the Governor... These legislators trust the citizens with the same rights most other Americans enjoy, while clearly the Governor does not!" LEAA also criticizes the media for their coverage. Since the first serious consideration of Right to Carry in Missouri in the form of Proposition B in 1999, most rank-and-file law enforcement in Missouri has been supportive. However, much of the media coverage has ignored this important fact. As a result, many of the politicians who opposed this bill have exploited this lack of accurate coverage to claim that it was not supported by law enforcement. The bill that previously passed, as well as the veto override today, was supported by a strong coalition of people and groups. It was a real team effort with gun owners, law enforcement, crime victims and many associations all working together to get the truth of this issue before the public and legislators. Since before Prop B in 1999, and during this fight, LEAA and its law enforcement members have been telling the truth from the law enforcement perspective that: almost three out of every four states in America have a "Shall Issue" system so responsible adults can obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm for self-defense; Missourians are no less trustworthy and deserving of the right to choose their own means of self-defense than are these other Americans; law enforcement is threatened when we let hardened, violent criminal loose on our streets, not when we trust the honest folks; and, that today, over 60% of all Americans live -- and live safely --in states with concealed carry laws. The opponents arguing against giving Missourians the right to choose self-defense have relied on wild exaggerations and claims that have been proven false time and time again. Claims like: Missouri will turn into a virtual “Dodge City;” this law will mean more guns and more guns means more crime; every argument will turn into a gun fight; and, that trusting honest citizens will somehow be a threat to officers on the street. The opponents seem to believe that in each honest citizen lurks a soon to be cop-killer who needs only to obtain a permit to carry concealed to be turned into a homicidal maniac. Yet each time these dire predictions are made they ignore the experiences of the majority of the states in this nation that have adopted similar laws, their experiences have proven these fears to be false. Not a single one has suffered any of the nightmare scenarios put forth by opponents and not a single state has seen fit to rescind their concealed carry laws. Said Jim Fotis, "Because of the courage of the Missouri legislature and the trust they have in the citizens who elected them, innocent lives will be saved; soon, would be crime victims will have the means to fight back and defend themselves. Based on the real experiences of all these other states, I predict that there will be fewer future crime victims as a result of today's historic vote." Here is what some law enforcement has said after their states passed similar laws. After Virginia passed Right to Carry Virginia Public Safety Secretary {now Attorney General} Jerry Kilgore commented: ‘Virginia has not turned into Dodge City. We have not had a problem.’ Arlington County, Virginia, Detective Todd Larson, who initially expressed some reservations about the law, two years after passage said, "I was wrong. But I’m glad to say I was wrong.” In Texas, Senior Corporal Glenn White, President of the Dallas Police Association, a year after the law passed, told his hometown paper, “All the horror stories I thought would come to pass didn’t happenÉNo boogie man. I think it’s worked out well and that says good things about the citizens who have permits. I’m a convert.” A year after Florida’s concealed-carry law took effect, the executive director of the Florida Police Chiefs Association made a very similar statement: 'At this point, it would appear the law is working very well. There are no horror stories that can be attributed to the passage of the law.’ Fotis concluded his comments by saying, "Every single state that has allowed its law-abiding citizens to exercise their constitutional right to self defense by choosing to carry a concealed firearm has seen a significant drop in violent crime, Missouri’s rank and file cops clearly wanted this same advantage for the people they are sworn to protect. Now we expect that violent criminals will have a new deterrent to crime on the streets and in the communities of Missouri. Now criminals will have to think twice before they attack Missouri citizens." ## END ## With over 75,000 Members and supporters nation-wide, the Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) is the nation’s largest coalition of law enforcement professionals, crime victims, and concerned citizens dedicated to making America safer.
Learn more about LEAAs efforts to promote Right to Carry nationwide.
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