Missouri Governor Mike Parson is once again considering a mother’s request to enhance penalties for celebratory gunshots.
On Monday night, state lawmakers discussed issues that will affect all of you. They are in Kansas City to discuss the recent session, which included laws that are currently awaiting Parson’s signature.
You may be familiar with “Blair’s Law.” The governor vetoed a larger criminal bill last year due to a separate provision, but MPs are hoping to sign it this time.
Missouri State Representative Mark Sharp (D-Kansas City) sponsored “Blair’s Law.” Legislation would impose harsher penalties on anyone who fires celebratory bullets.
“I thought we had a really good head start, seeing the bill had passed the previous session,” Sharp stated. “We’re encouraging the governor to have a ceremonial signing here in Kansas City, since the event that caused Blair to lose her life happened in this area.”
A stray bullet killed 11-year-old Blair Shanahan Lane in Kansas City on July 4, 13 years ago.
It is one of the few bills that will pass during this year’s session.
John Sharp is the president of the South Kansas City Alliance, which hosted the gathering where state lawmakers could openly discuss what happened during the legislative session. He also hopes the governor will sign the bill.
“It passed last year, and the governor vetoed it because it was part of an omnibus bill and there were some other things he didn’t like,” he explained. “I think people in Kansas City now understand that our homicide rate and violent crime rate are not normal, and the amount of celebratory and indiscriminate gunfire is not normal.”
Police detained and charged four males for recklessly firing a firearm into a nearby lake.
Parson hasn’t signed the measure yet. But once he does, it will become law on August 28. There is no indication yet on when or where the signing ceremony will take place.