s given first-round approval to legislation that would overhaul the state’s conceal carry process. The bill would eliminate conceal carry endorsements in favor of conceal carry permits, which would be issued by county Sheriff’s offices instead of the Department of Revenue.
It’s sponsored by GOP House Member Rick Brattin of Cass County.
“It protects our constituents, every person in the state, all their important information that’s been scanned and sent away, it’ll put a stop to that,” Brattin said. “It’ll remove the regulation, red tape, (and) put it back in the hands of the local county sheriff.”
Currently, sheriff’s offices process the conceal carry applications and handle the background checks, then send applicants to their local DOR license fee office to get the actual card. Opponents argued that an amendment eliminating renewal fees for conceal carry would cut into state revenues. The bill needs one more vote before moving to the Missouri Senate.
