HB 1860 creates a 15-member "Task Force on Gun Violence in the City of St. Louis" to address local gun violence. The task force includes four state legislators (appointed by chamber leaders), a public safety director, and eight community members representing police, schools, parents, students, and residents. It will form specialized teams to analyze gun violence data, build community partnerships, develop reduction strategies, and measure progress through monthly meetings. The task force must submit annual reports to the governor and legislature and expires on December 31, 2028 (or extended to 2030). This bill directly affects St. Louis City residents and local institutions by establishing a formal structure for collaborative violence prevention efforts.
HB 2631 makes it a serious misdemeanor for anyone under 18 to knowingly possess a handgun or handgun ammunition. It specifically targets minors' firearm possession, with key exceptions allowing it for farm/ranch work (with parental consent), military service, inheritance, or home defense. The bill defines "handgun" as a single-handed firearm (excluding antiques) and clarifies that firearms transferred legally to minors won't be permanently confiscated if the minor later violates the law. Penalties include fines or jail time, but the law emphasizes parental consent and specific permitted activities to avoid criminalizing typical minor firearm use.
HB 1823 creates a new criminal offense for possessing an ammunition feeding device (like a magazine) that holds more than ten rounds. This law directly affects individuals who own or carry such devices in Missouri, making it illegal to possess them without exception. The bill replaces existing firearm definitions and adds specific penalty provisions for this violation. It focuses solely on restricting high-capacity feeding devices, not on other firearm types or general possession.
HB 2545 makes it unlawful for specific individuals to possess firearms, including those convicted of a felony, fugitives from justice, people habitually intoxicated or mentally incompetent, or certain non-citizens (like those illegally in the U.S. or on temporary visas without federal exceptions). Violating this would typically be a class C felony, but becomes a class B felony for repeat offenders or those with prior "dangerous felony" convictions. The bill explicitly excludes antique firearms from these restrictions. It modifies existing state law to clarify who is prohibited from firearm possession and adjust penalty levels.
HB 2193 creates a legal process for courts to issue emergency "extreme risk orders" restricting gun access when someone poses an immediate risk of harming themselves or others. Law enforcement can request an immediate court order (ex parte) without prior notice if there's an urgent danger, requiring the person to surrender all firearms within 24 hours. A full hearing must occur within 15 days, and if the risk is proven by a preponderance of evidence, a one-year order is issued. This directly affects individuals identified as high-risk by law enforcement, with special provisions for minors under 18, who are transferred to juvenile court.
HB 2176, titled the "Anti-Red Flag Gun Seizure Act," prohibits Missouri state agencies, law enforcement, and political subdivisions from enforcing any "red flag law" (including federal or state orders requiring temporary firearm seizure or confiscation). It bans the use of state or federal funds to enforce such laws and imposes a $50,000 civil penalty for violations. The bill specifically exempts firearm seizures as evidence during criminal investigations. It directly affects Missouri citizens' firearm rights and law enforcement practices by blocking enforcement of red flag laws across state and local agencies.
HB 2136 makes it unlawful to possess a firearm if someone has a felony conviction (state or federal), is a fugitive, mentally incompetent, habitually intoxicated, or not a U.S. citizen. It classifies unlawful possession as a class C felony, but upgrades it to a class B felony if the person has a prior conviction for the same offense or a dangerous felony. The bill excludes antique firearms from these restrictions. This law directly affects individuals meeting the specified criteria, altering penalties for firearm possession under these conditions.
SB 922 creates a new offense for minors under 18 who knowingly possess a handgun or handgun ammunition, classifying it as a class A misdemeanor. The bill directly affects minors, with specific exceptions allowing possession during supervised farm/ranch activities, military service, inheritance, or self-defense in a residence. Key provisions clarify that firearms transferred properly to minors for permitted activities (like target practice with parental consent) won't lead to permanent confiscation, and confiscated items must be returned to owners if not involved in crime. The law also updates rules for firearm confiscation in felony cases involving firearms, ensuring minors' legally transferred weapons aren't permanently taken.
HB 2266 replaces Missouri's current law on unlawful use of weapons with specific prohibitions. It bans carrying concealed weapons in restricted areas (like schools, churches, and government buildings), discharging firearms near occupied buildings, and possessing weapons while intoxicated. The bill exempts law enforcement officers, prison staff, and military personnel acting in official duties, even when carrying weapons in restricted locations. This clarifies what constitutes a violation but does not change existing penalty levels for the offense.
This Missouri bill replaces the state's self-defense law with updated rules. It allows deadly force to protect against unlawful entry into a home, vehicle, business, or personal property, and removes the requirement to retreat in those locations. The law clarifies that force is justified when a person reasonably believes it's needed to prevent death, serious injury, or a forcible felony. It directly affects individuals claiming self-defense in criminal cases, shifting the burden of proof to the defendant in certain scenarios.
