A hearing has been set for June 8th on St. Louis County’s challenge to the state’s conceal and carry gun law. It will be heard in Cole County Circuit Court. St. Louis County claims the $100 fee that sheriffs can charge for processing permit applications does not fully cover the costs and is, therefore, an unfunded mandate. That would be a violation of the Hancock Amendment. The Hancock issue was one of the arguments used by conceal and carry opponents as they took their case to the State Supreme Court in an effort to kill the law that had been passed by the Legislature. It’s the only argument that made any headway with the judges. But many counties which claim there are no cost problems associated with the permits have gone about the business of issuing the permits and have encountered no problems.