Missouri House OKs Bill Blocking Local Gun Rules, Eyes Governor

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri House on Thursday passed legislation barring cities and counties from enacting gun laws tougher than state statutes, sending the measure to Gov. Mike Parson for approval. The bill, which builds on the state's long-standing preemption of local firearm regulations, aims to ensure uniform gun rights across Missouri's 114 counties and urban centers like Kansas City and St. Louis, where homicide rates topped national averages in recent years. Sponsored by Rep. Rick Francis, R-Jefferson City, the proposal passed 95-44 along mostly party lines, reflecting GOP dominance in the legislature.

While specific bill details on local preemption were not fully detailed in recent tracking, the move echoes prior laws like the 2021 Second Amendment Preservation Act, which faced federal court challenges for defying U.S. gun regulations. Proponents argue it protects Second Amendment rights from patchwork local bans, especially after St. Louis and Kansas City unsuccessfully pushed measures like assault weapon restrictions amid 2025's spike in gun deaths—Missouri's rate remains among the nation's highest at over 20 per 100,000 residents. The bill's passage comes as the 2026 session winds down, with five weeks left for Senate action on related measures like HB 1730, which eases firearm suppressor access starting August 28, 2026.

Critics, including urban Democrats and groups like Giffords Law Center, warn the law exacerbates Missouri's gaps in universal background checks, permitless carry—enacted in 2017—and extreme risk protection orders. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas highlighted local frustrations, noting the city's 2025 push for red-flag law prohibitions was thwarted by similar state bills. Parson, a staunch Second Amendment advocate, signed comparable preemption expansions in past sessions and is expected to approve this one, further solidifying Missouri's reputation for lax gun laws.