Proposes a constitutional amendment relating to firearms

This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to Missouri that would explicitly protect the right of citizens to keep and bear arms for self-defense and other lawful purposes. The amendment requires that any state restrictions on these rights be subject to strict scrutiny and prohibits the government from refusing to protect these rights against infringement. While the state constitution would guarantee these rights, the bill allows counties and major cities like St. Louis and Kansas City to pass their own local ordinances regulating firearm possession, carrying, and transfers. These local regulations could include permit systems with fees limited to administrative costs, background checks, and specific exemptions for law enforcement, judges, and licensed security guards. Violations of any such local ordinances would be punishable by fines up to $1,000 or imprisonment for more than one year.