CCW Legislation (1)

As MO House Moves CCW on Transit Forward; Transit Providers Stress Opposition      

As the Missouri legislature continues to push Conceal and Carry on Transit bills forward including the perfection of HB52 sponsored by Representation Adam Schnelting (R-St. Charles),  Missouri transit providers are speaking out in direct opposition. HB52 allows a concealed carry permit holder to lawfully carry firearms on public transportation, as defined in the bill. It is currently a crime to board a bus or train with a dangerous or deadly weapon or carry such a weapon in a terminal. The bill would allow anyone with a permit to carry a firearm while traveling by transit.

“The close-quarter transit environment is absolutely unique and allowing passengers to carry firearms on transit is not the answer to enhancing the safety and security of any transit system in a rural or urban area.” said Kimberly Cella, executive director of the Missouri Public Transit Association.

Missouri transit providers are speaking out in opposition:

“Concealed carry is not a reasonable assumption in a transit environment, just like it isn’t reasonable at stadiums or in any massive crowd situation. The Board of Commissioners at Bi-State Development does not support legislation in Missouri or in Illinois that would allow Metro Transit passengers to carry weapons of any kind, open or concealed, even with a conceal carry permit, on Metro vehicles or on Metro property. As a normal course of business, we are discussing these policy issues with our lawmakers, and state senators in the St. Louis area are concerned about the negative impacts of this proposed legislation.”

Kevin Scott, General Manager, Field Operations, Metro Transit

KCATA CEO Robbie Makinen weighed in one CCW on Transit in Feb. 24 Editorial Piece in the KC Star. Concealed guns on Kansas City buses would not fight violence | The Kansas City Star

Violent incidents rarely occur on RideKC buses and other vehicles. Only 16 disturbances were reported last year by the agency, said Robbie Makinen, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority. Weapons were recovered in four of those instances — a minuscule number for a region-wide transportation system that provides nearly 60,000 trips per day. “You can’t carry weapons on planes or Amtrak,” Makinen said. “Why do you need one on a bus?”   “I don’t see the value in this bill,” Makinen said.