Governor Jay Nixon has vetoed a bill that proposed a broad expansion of gun rights in Missouri.
Nixon said he vetoed the bill because it would have eliminated required training, education, and background checks in order to carry a concealed gun. He said it would have allowed people to carry concealed guns even after being denied a permit by a sheriff after a background check revealed criminal offenses or caused the sheriff to believe they posed a danger.
In the statement from his office, Nixon writes, “As Governor, I have signed bills to expand the rights of law-abiding Missourians to carry concealed and am always willing to consider ways to further improve our CCW process. But I cannot support the extreme step of throwing out that process entirely, eliminating sensible protections like background checks and training requirements, and taking away the ability of sheriffs to protect their communities.”
The bill would also expand the state’s “castle doctrine,” which allows homeowners to use deadly force against intruders by letting invited guests to also use such force. It also included a “stand your ground” provision to let people in a place they were legally allowed to use deadly force against a perceived threat, without retreating.
The bill passed the Missouri legislature with enough votes to overturn Nixon’s veto if lawmakers vote as they did in May.
