Mass shooting at St. Louis high school sparks debate on gun laws, mental health resources
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A week before a mass shooting at a St. Louis high school on Monday, the shooter's family asked police to take away his guns out of concern for his mental state.
Police worked with the family and a third party to get the guns removed from him, and it is unclear how he got them back.
Missouri politicians are debating whether the law or more mental health resources would have made a difference.
When addressing reporters at the St. Louis Metro Police Department, Gov. Mike Parson says no amount of gun control will stop a tragedy like Monday's events at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. Instead, he believes mental health resources are the way to go.
"You've got a criminal that committed a criminal act, you know," Parson said. "And all the laws in the world are not going to stop those things when they occur."
The shooter was unable to buy a gun from a federally licensed dealer, but nothing in Missouri law prevented him from getting a gun from a private seller.
Parson signed the Second Amendment Preservation Act in 2019, which prohibits Missouri police from enforcing federal gun regulations. Now, critics and Democratic lawmakers, like Rep. Peter Merideth (D-St. Louis), are saying Parson and other Missouri Republicans are facilitating an environment that allows for this kind of mass violence.
"We've got a kid who's not even old enough to drink and he's legally allowed to own and buy an AR-15," Merideth said. "And not only that, eight days earlier his family is asking, begging for help, seeking mental help, but also asking the police to take the gun from him."
Both Republicans and Democrats agree the police were heroes in Monday's mass shooting, but Merideth said Missouri lawmakers should've put measures in place to prevent them from needing heroes.
"Politicians that love to say how much they support law enforcement, they know that law enforcement is heroes," Merideth said. "They don't listen to them about what needs to be done to keep them safer and all of us safer."
A bipartisan bill was passed at the national level recently, it included a provision sponsored by Sen. Roy Blunt to increase mental health resources nationwide.
It is illegal for anyone convicted of a felony, a fugitive from justice, a person found to habitually abuse drugs or alcohol or a person who is deemed mentally incompetent to own a gun.
If anyone finds themself in a position where they feel a family member needs their removed out of concern for their safety or the safety of others, Boone County Sheriff's Office offers some advice.
"If anyone ever has a fear that a family member is in possession of a firearm and believes that person is a harm to themselves or others, they should contact their local law enforcement and discuss options," Capt. Brian Leer said. "Sometimes there are mental health options and interventions available. Sometimes law enforcement may be able to remove the firearms and sometimes they may be able to assist and/or facilitate a safe legal transfer option."
