Missouri (Almost) Becomes A Stand Your Ground State

UPDATED: June 27, 2016 (This post was originally published as “Missouri Becomes A Stand Your Ground State”. The title has been changed to accommodate a veto on June 27, 2016, by Governor Jay Nixon.)

SEE: Missouri Governor Vetoes Stand Your Ground Bill

Democrats filibustered and put up a bold, powerful fight against SB656, a bill that will make Missouri the first since the Trayvon Martin case to become a stand your ground state. In the end, after a Senate vote of 28-8, the bill passed through the House with a vote of 114-36, disappointing many opponents. With the Senate majority vote, the bill cannot be vetoed by Democratic Governor Jay Nixon.*

SB656 changes several things in Missouri’s laws on self-defense, use of weapons, and concealed carry. The laws already included a castle doctrine, which covers protection of home & property.

Stand your ground was added under the unlawful use of weapons portion of the bill, when words were changed to state that now a person does not have a duty to retreat from a dwelling, residence, vehicle, private property that is owned or leased, or anywhere else a person has a right to be, as long as that person is not engaged in an unlawful activity, and not unlawfully entering or unlawfully remaining.

Missouri Capitol (Image: Missouri Senate website)

Here are some other key points in the legislation:

SELF DEFENSE

The act provides that any unexpended funds in a Sheriff’s Revolving Fund, which usually accumulate from year to year, will no longer be required to remain in the fund, and now may be used for other purposes or transferred to discretionary funds for the sheriffs.

The law will now allow deadly force to be used by anyone who has permission to occupy private property, such as a house guest. Previously it applied only to the property owner or someone leasing it.

UNLAWFUL USE OF WEAPONS

It’s will now be only a misdemeanor, and no longer a felony, to carry a concealed weapon into a place that has restrictions on concealed carry.

CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT FEES

Caps the CC permit fee at $100. Also provides options of a $500. lifetime fee rather than every five years; $200 to receive a Missouri extended concealed carry permit that is valid for 10 years or $250 for an extended permit that is valid for 25 years. To renew an extended permit, the permit holder must pay $50.

* It’s posssible for a gubernatorial veto to be overriden by a state legislarure.

What Do You Think About Stand Your Ground Laws?