JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson likes the outlines of a federal gun bill taking shape in the U.S. Senate, primarily for what is not in the package.
Parson, a Republican, said Wednesday that the plan emerging in the Senate in the aftermath of two more mass shootings in Texas and New York, does not force the state to enact or enforce stricter gun control laws.
Rather, under the tentative agreement, the blueprint calls for grants to help states enforce or enact “red flag†laws that let police get court orders in order to temporarily take guns from people deemed dangerous. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia have such statutes, but Missouri, which has some of the nation’s loosest gun control laws, is not one of them.
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Parson said that’s not likely to change under his watch if the federal law gives states the option to participate.
“The main thing I want to make sure is they are letting states make decisions for states. I just don’t want them tying my hands on what we do here in Missouri,†Parson told the Post-Dispatch following an event at the Capitol. “As long as they want to let states decide how they want to handle red flags, that’s OK with me. As long as they let us decide.â€
In 2020, Parson outlined his opposition to the concept, saying he did not support taking away guns from domestic abusers because it would infringe on an individual’s rights under the Second Amendment.
“There’s lots of things we can do besides that,†Parson said Wednesday.
The governor, who will leave office in January 2025, has long been a proponent of pro-gun legislation. As a member of the Missouri House, for example, he co-sponsored Missouri’s “Castle Doctrine†law, which allows individuals to use deadly force in defense of their own homes.
Parson also supports the state’s Second Amendment Preservation Act, which he signed into law at a Lee’s Summit gun store in 2021.
The law prevents local and state law enforcement officials from enforcing federal gun regulations. Although SAPA is being challenged in court, its existence is an example of how the Republican-controlled state House and Senate will react to any federal firearms mandates.
Parson did say he backs a provision in the proposed law that would boost spending on mental health initiatives. The sponsor of that element is U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, a Missouri Republican who is leaving office next year.
The plan would pay for more community behavioral health centers, strengthened suicide prevention and violence intervention efforts and increased access to mental telehealth visits.
“I think the mental health issue is a big deal,†Parson said. “Regardless of which side you’re on in the gun situation, we all know that mental health plays a major part in it.â€
“We’ve got to do a better job evaluating people before an incident does occur,†Parson said. “We’ve got to be able to get that information in the right people’s hands.â€
Parson also hailed a provision providing additional money for school safety that could pay for improved security at building entrances, training for staff and violence prevention programs.
In 2020, Parson slashed $300,000 for a school safety training program as part of a broader budget cut related to the pandemic.
The money was eventually restored and in this year’s proposed budget, the amount is $1 million.
The governor has not taken final action on the budget, which will go into effect July 1.
Originally posted at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, June 14.