Local Gun Rules Not Changing Yet

There’s no word yet from Boone County and Columbia officials about impending changes to gun policies or if either entity will introduce new programs to get illegal guns off the street. ABC 17 was in touch with city and county leaders earlier this week after a program was launched in Cole County to take guns out of the hands of felons.On Wednesday Vice President Joe Biden met with a task force to look at ways to help control violent attacks around the country. On Tuesday ABC 17 News reported Cole County officials announced a new initiative to pay residents who provide information that helps police confiscate illegal weapons. “It is resonating with everybody, everybody says that could’ve happened to my child,” said Boone County Commissioner Janet Thompson when referring to the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.ABC 17 News Crews met the commissioner to ask if Boone County could take similar steps as Cole County, in response Thompson said “I think that’s certainly something the commission can discuss. I am certain that with the initiative that’s come out of Cole County, we’ll be talking about it.”If the city and county officials are talking about gun control, none of the people capable of making the changes were willing to tell ABC 17 News crews. The Columbia mayor, city manager and sheriff were all unavailable for comment on Wednesday.Even though police aren’t talking about the issue, managers at Target Masters in Columbia said their customers are.When ABC 17 News asked if people were being vocal about buying guns, Barry McKenzie at Target Masters said, “They are. Like I said with the crime and different activity that’s been doing on in the Boone County and Columbia area, a lot of people are concerned about their safety.”Bullets went flying as McKenzie told crews about the large increase in sales he’s seen, and the type of guns he sells. “We don’t call the guns assault rifles, they’re tactical rifles. An assault rifle, that’s the name the media likes to put on them…umm, the guns don’t assault anybody,” said McKenzie.Commissioner Thompson said if nothing else, more does need to be done locally in Boone County. “We need to make sure those are not in the hands of people who will use them inappropriately,” said Thompson.ABC 17 News spoke with a woman looking to buy a gun Wednesday who said she was not for any more gun control laws, and that they haven’t been proven to be effective in preventing shootings. At the same time Commissioner Thompson said she hopes officials will be proactive and wouldn’t want to be a government official in the aftermath of a tragedy that could’ve potentially been prevented.