Senate committees approved their first gun bills this week.
Senate Bill 74 would lower to 18 the state’s prohibition on anyone under the age of 21 from carrying a gun, but only for military service members who have completed basic training. The bill’s lead sponsor, Sen. Barry Loudermilk, R-Cassville, is a U.S. Air Force veteran and member of the National Rifle Association. SB 74 won unanimous passage from the Senate Public Safety Committee.
Senate Bill 93, sponsored by Sen. Bill Heath, R-Bremen, would allow hunters to use gun silencers (which don't eliminate the sound of a shot so much as suppress it). The bill would penalize anyone who hunts with a silencer illegally — such as without a landowner's permission — with a three-year ban. Silencers are legal, but current law prohibits their use for hunting.
SB 93 passed the Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee on an 8-1 vote. Both bills now go to the Senate Rules Committee.
About the Author
