House leadership to stall bills to expand gun access after Super Bowl parade shooting
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
House Majority Floor Leader Rep. Jon Patterson (R-Lees Summit) said several Republican bills on guns are unlikely to be brought to the floor this year because of the mass shooting at the Kansas City Super Bowl parade.
Around one million people were gathered in Kansas City to celebrate the Chiefs second-straight Super Bowl win when gunfire broke out. One woman, Lisa Lopez-Galvan, was killed and 22 others injured. Two juveniles were detained and charged with weapons offenses, according to a release from the Jackon County Family Court Division.
Of the victims, half of them were children. Children's Mercy in Kansas City shared on Saturday that all their patients from the shooting were discharged.
Patterson told reporters Monday that he could not in good faith bring up bills the Kansas City mayor is against after offering him thoughts and prayers.
"Every lawmaker should be willing to take a sober look at all policies," Patterson said.
Rep. Ben Baker (R-Neosho) is the sponsor of one of the bills now placed on the back burner. His bill would allow Missourians to carry guns on public transit. Baker said he thinks the bill should still get some discussion later in the session.
"It's probably not the time to bring that bill up, you know, but we still need to have that debate," Baker said.
Democratic lawmakers held a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss gun laws, "in the wake of Wednesday’s mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory parade and the gun violence that erupts daily throughout Missouri due to the state’s lax laws."
Rep. Crystal Quade (D-Springfield) announced a resolution to give local elected officials the power to regulate guns. If approved by the legislature, it would have to also be approved by a vote of the people.
"Giving local control back to where it belongs," Quade said of the resolution. "Local elected officials who best know the needs of their communities."
Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) was at the parade when gunfire broke out. He joined ABC 17 News later that evening to recap his experience. Smith told ABC 17 News this weekend that Democratic lawmakers plan to address Missouri's gun laws because of this shooting.
"Everybody knows that this is horrific," Smith said. "Everybody knows that it's time to change our society for the better. These types of situations should not be normalized, but there's groups of people that are so dug in, they have so much opposition. They don't want to do what's necessary."
In a Thursday news conference, House Speaker Rep. Dean Plocher (R-Des Peres) praised the response of the Kansas City Police Department but did not want to comment any further because of the ongoing investigation.
“The turn of events in Kansas City this week were horrific and tragic, and we grieve the loss of life and offer our thoughts and prayers to those who have suffered and lost their lives," Plocher said. "Our hearts go out to the victim's family and loved ones, and to all of those affected by this terrible event."
