Brandom: Updating Missouri Gun Laws

Last week the Missouri House passed gun reforms that should help ease restrictions on law abiding citizens, but crack-down on those individuals who use guns in addition to illegal drugs.

Currently, it is a crime to have an illegal firearm, and a crime to possess illegal drugs. Often, drug users’ plea to a deal where they admit to the drug crime and have the firearm charge dropped.

This bill makes it a separate crime to carry drugs and a gun at the same time. It additionally specifies that this separate crime of carrying drugs and guns cannot be suspended for multiple offenders. Believe it or not, this reform will crack down on lots of offenders who are getting their gun charges dropped.

While our legal system has shown these illegal users of guns leniency, law-abiding citizens have a tougher time. To receive a concealed carry permit in Missouri an individual must be 23 years old. Missouri is the only state in the Union to require individuals to be 23 to receive the concealed carry permit – most states only require you to be 21.

It is unfortunate that this artificial barrier exists for those who want to legally use firearms to protect themselves. That’s why our bill also lowers this age to 21 to bring it in line with other states.

Also, currently law-abiding Missouri residents can only buy guns in states that share a border with us, like Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. If you go on a hunting trip to Alaska, Colorado, Montana, or any state that does not border our own, and trigger or firing pin breaks, you cannot legally buy a new firearm there.

Our bill [HB294] will change this – Missouri Residents will now be able to buy guns in other states, and our gun shop owners will be able to sell guns to residents from states that do not border our own.

Join me in our efforts to support reforms for Missourians 2nd Amendment rights – law abiding citizens should be able to buy, use, sell, and trade firearms. People that would use guns to buy, use, sell, and trade drugs should go to jail.


I would like to thank everyone who visited my office this past week. It is always a pleasure to have friends, neighbors, and constituents visit.
[At Left] Representative Brandom met with Missy Rice of the Southeast Missouri Food Bank to discuss important information relating to the food bank program.


[At Right] Representative Brandom visiting with members of the SEMO Alliance for Disability Independence (SADI). Pictured are Representative Brandom, Donna Thompson, James Word, Janet Knows, and Joan Jordan.