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Pre-Filed Bill Would Allow Gun Owners to Sue 'Gun-Free' Businesses

The sponsor of the bill, Sen. John Lamping (R-St. Louis County), says barring race from consideration could help increase the number of adoptions in Missouri.
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The sponsor of the bill, Sen. John Lamping (R-St. Louis County), says barring race from consideration could help increase the number of adoptions in Missouri.

Republican lawmakers in Missouri are continuing their push for expanded gun rights by targeting businesses that operate as gun-free zones.

Legislation pre-filed in the Missouri House would allow people authorized to carry firearms to sue businesses that ban firearms on their properties if they're wounded in a robbery or assault while at that business. It's sponsored by Rep.-elect Nick Schroer, R-O'Fallon.

"The language of the bill would not require a business owner to act or refrain from acting in any way; all it would really do is attach a certain liability to decisions that they make," he said. "Let's say if they mopped the floor and didn't put up a wet floor sign and somebody slipped and fell, there (are) consequences to that business decision."

The proposal would not affect local governments or college campuses that operate as gun-free zones. Schroer said he hopes it will lead to a decrease in such zones across Missouri.

"No written rule is going to stop somebody from committing a crime," he said. "It's been shown across the nation that these gun-free zones or no-gun zones don't work; deterrence is occurring in these areas where people know that there are armed, trained people, whether they're civilians or guards."

Rep. Stacey Newman, D-Richmond Heights, strongly disagreed in brief statement:

"I support the right of business owners to determine if they choose to allow firearms or not on their private property. There is no credible evidence that a gun prevents any robbery or assault. In fact, the medical community insists that the presence of a gun increases injuries/death."

The 2017 legislative session begins Jan. 4.

Missouri Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a proud alumnus of the University of Mississippi (a.k.a., Ole Miss), and has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off the old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Mason, and their cat, Honey.