02/19/24 Missouri Mondays - It’s the guns and MO GOP lax laws! Demand change or vote them out! Initiative petitions still under attack! Take urgent action!
Welcome to Missouri Mondays.
Last week, Kansas City joined the long and growing list of cities in America traumatized by a mass shooting. Just moments after the KC Chiefs Super Bowl rally ended, more than 20 were shot including 9 children and Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a mother of two and beloved KKFI radio DJ, was dead. Two juvenile suspects have been charged in connection with the shooting that turned the celebration’s joy into terror and chaos. Our hearts go out to the Lopez-Galvan family and to everyone affected by this senseless violence.
Yet another mass shooting despite the presence of over 800 armed officers on duty to keep everyone safe. It is clear there is no number of “good guys with guns” that would have prevented this shooting.
From the Missouri Independent Feb 15, In a radio interview Thursday morning, Gov. Mike Parson said the perpetrators were “just a bunch of criminals, thugs out there.”
Parson was present when the gunfire erupted and like other VIPs, ran for safety under protection of law enforcement. He was scheduled to speak to reporters Thursday afternoon about deployment of Missouri National Guard troops to Texas for border duty, but the press conference was canceled.“
“Missouri has some of the laxest firearms laws in the country and a Republican legislative supermajority that is openly hostile to gun regulations. Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence ranks Missouri as having the third-weakest gun laws in the nation.
Missouri began allowing gun owners to carry concealed weapons in 2003, requiring training and a permit issued by the county sheriff. In 2007, the law requiring a permit to buy a handgun was repealed.
The repeal of permit to purchase led to at least a 25%, and as much as a 47%, increase in firearms homicides and a 23.5% increase in firearms suicides in Missouri in the years since it passed, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.
In 2016, the state repealed the permit requirement to carry a concealed weapon and passed a law barring local governments from banning the open carry of guns for people who do go through the concealed weapon permit process.
In 2021, Republican votes carried to passage a bill called the “Second Amendment Protection Act,” which declared federal gun laws were unenforceable in the state and imposed financial penalties on Missouri police that cooperate with federal authorities to enforce national gun laws.
And last year, the Missouri House voted down a proposal to ban children from carrying guns without adult supervision in public, with all but one Republican voting against it.”
“Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin, a Shelbina Republican, was also in KC at the rally. In an interview with The Independent, she said she doesn’t see a reason to pass new gun regulations.
“I felt terrible about what happened,” O’Laughlin said. “But we live in a free society. And there’s only so much you can do to ensure safety.” Stricter gun laws would not change the behavior of criminals, O’Laughlin said. “When you have a million people converging into a location, and if someone is just determined to create mayhem, I’m not sure how you stop it,” O’Laughlin said.
Arguing that new laws don’t work to stop bad behavior sounds odd coming from a legislator, Arthur said. “If laws didn’t work, why do we pass laws banning anything, including books,” Arthur said, referring to legislation passed in 2022 to ban “sexually explicit material” in school libraries.
Only election losses related to opposition to tighter gun laws would alter the political dynamic, Arthur said. “The truth is they don’t care,” she said. “They don’t care about this problem. They don’t care about the people who are harmed by it because look at the callous tone that they’ve taken towards those people who have been hurt.”
The MO GOP is responsible for our lax gun laws making it all too easy to access and carry guns in our state, inevitably leading to tragedies like we experienced in Kansas City. We don’t have to live like this. We must demand change from our elected leaders or VOTE THEM OUT! Each week we’ll provide resources, upcoming events and ways to get involved. Thank you for staying informed, taking action, and helping to spread the word by sharing this link to sign up for Missouri Mondays weekly email bit.ly/3pF99Uw.
UPCOMING EVENTS - ACTIONS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
TAKE ACTION WITH THE MISSOURI VOTER PROTECTION COALITION (MOVPC)
TO PROTECT THE RIGHT TO VOTE
Join the MOVPC weekly online meeting MONDAYS at 10 AM
Text “MOVPC” to 66866 or register HERE: bit.ly/protectmovoters
Your help is needed to protect voting rights and ensure ALL Missourians are able to make their voices heard! MOVPC is a nonpartisan statewide network promoting access to the ballot and working to remove barriers to voting in Missouri! Register for Monday calls here!
MOVPC 2024 Missouri Legislative Tracker
See a breakdown of elections related bills on MOVPC's Voting Rights Legislative Tracker here: bit.ly/movotingbills
~~~~~
TELL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE NO SALES TAX EXEMPTION FOR FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION! VOTE NO ON HB 2291!
LWVMO OPPOSES
Short Description: Exempts firearms and ammunition from sales tax.
Status of the Bill: Placed on the House Perfection Calendar for Monday, February 19.
HB 2291 Talking Points–
Missouri is one of only 13 states that still taxes groceries yet seeks to exempt firearms and ammunition sold in the state
Amendments to the bill should include sales tax exemptions for groceries, diapers and feminine hygiene products
The bill’s fiscal estimate says it would cost the state about $31 million a year in lost revenue, and local governments up to $65.4 million annually
Link to the summary of the bill here: https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills241/sumpdf/HB1749C.pdf
Tell your MO House Representative to oppose this bill! Find your representative using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default
~~~~~
TELL YOUR STATE ELECTEDS TO STOP ATTACKS ON INITIATIVE PETITIONS!
The Republican supermajority is advancing legislation designed to gut Missouri's long-standing citizen initiative process and end majority rule in Missouri and silence the voices of Missouri's voters. Your voice is needed to ensure all Missourians are able to make their voices heard!
LWVMO OPPOSES SCS/SJR 74
Short Description: Weakens Missouri's Initiative Petition process by adding a concurrent majority of US Congressional districts requirement.
Status of the Bill: On the Senate Informal Perfection Calendar
Bill summary here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Summary.aspx?SessionType=R&S
Voting should not give preference or more weight based on zip code and acreage; each vote counts equally regardless of where you live
Requiring a two-condition threshold creates a rule by minority, undermining the will of all Missourians
Restating existing language is confusing; non-citizens CANNOT currently vote in Missouri; it is an unnecessary and a disingenuous message
LWVMO OPPOSES
Short Description: Places additional restrictions on signature gathering to the Initiative Petition process.
Status of the Bill: On the House Perfection Calendar
Requiring a 30 day residency for signature gatherers has been found to be unconstitutional
Requiring a 30 day residency restricts the ability of military personnel or students who recently transferred or moved to Missouri and who want to contribute immediately, to participate in the signature gathering process
Allows litigation to scuttle a successful signature gathering effort by seeking a ruling that alters petition language
Bill summary here: https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills241/sumpdf/HB1749C.pdf
Find all Call to Action details and talking points from the League of Women Voters Missouri (LWVMO) here: https://lwvkc.org/content.aspx?page_id=722&club_id=477430&emtid=242702554230&mtid=580132257397&ht=0
Tell your state representative and senator to protect direct democracy and majority rule through the initiative petition process!
Find your state representative and senator using the Legislator Lookup here: https://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/Default
~~~~~
TAKE URGENT ACTION WITH THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MISSOURI!
February 18 Weekly Legislative Calls to Action includes bills attacking direct democracy through initiative petitions, prohibiting spending on diversity/equity/inclusion, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of hair texture and hairstyles by educational institutions, requiring US citizen symbol on MO driver’s licenses and other MO nondriver’s licenses, climate and environment legislation, sales tax exemption for firearms and ammunition and more. Make your voice heard on issues of importance to you!
CALL TO ACTION DETAILS HERE: https://lwvkc.org/content.aspx?page_id=722&club_id=477430&emtid=242702554230&mtid=580132257397&ht=0
~~~~~
JOIN THE EFFORT TO PUT ABORTION RIGHTS ON THE BALLOT!
Missourians for Constitutional Freedom is a statewide coalition of organizations and concerned citizens from across the state working to establish the right for all Missourians to make decisions about our own reproductive health care – including abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care – without interference from out-of-touch politicians.
The decision of whether or not to have an abortion is a personal choice that should be made by Missourians, their families, and their health care providers – not politicians in Jefferson City. Passing this amendment will end our state’s abortion ban and make sure Missourians and their families can once again make the decisions that are best for them. Decisions around pregnancy, including abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care are personal and private and should be left up to patients and their families. But here in Missouri, politicians are making that decision for us.
We are coming together to end Missouri’s cruel total ban on abortion and give the power to make personal health care decisions back to where it belongs – to the people.
We are required to collect 172,000 valid signatures by May 5th, 2024, to ensure Missourians get to vote on ending our cruel abortion ban at the ballot. Your SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL to make this initiative a reality.
Donate: Your donation will directly contribute to kicking politicians out of personal, medical, and family decision making in Missouri. Donate here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/missourians-for-constitutional-freedom-1
Volunteer: Every action matters. Sign up to collect signatures, make calls, or host a house party. Sign up at https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/ to receive updates from the campaign and get notified for opportunities to sign the petition near you!
~~~~~
IMPORTANT MISSOURI VOTER INFORMATION FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION PROCESS!
Many Missouri voters don't know that in 2022 the MO General Assembly passed legislation eliminating the state’s March presidential primary and turned the process over to the political parties.
The Democratic presidential primary on March 23 will be a hybrid election, offering Missouri Democrats an opportunity to cast their vote by **mail or at an in-person voting site from 8 AM until noon on the day of the primary. Participants must be registered to vote and can’t be registered with another party. Find details about the Missouri Democratic Party (MDP) Presidential primary here: https://www.missouridemocrats.org/mdp-primary-information-2024
**Those registered as a Democrat by January 22 will automatically be sent a ballot.
REQUEST A BALLOT STARTING FEB 1
Starting Feb 1 you can request a ballot via the Missouri Democratic Party (MDP) website here: https://www.missouridemocrats.org/mdp-primary-information-2024
MORE INFORMATION ON MISSOURI’S PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION PROCESS
GOP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY - MARCH 2 A Republican caucus on March 2 will be similar to how Iowa selects delegates. Neither party affiliation nor registration are required, but participants must be registered to vote. Information here: https://missouri.gop/missouri-gop-2024-caucus/locate-your-caucus/
League of Women Voters of Missouri website for more information on the presidential selection process. https://my.lwv.org/missouri/event/new-ways-pick-preferred-presidential-candidates-2024
League of Women Voters of Missouri Presidential Selection Process Fact Sheet https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J4DAWRFPdubq4RIw6MaaF2xj4_idGppKFor more information on Presidential Selection Process–
~~~~~
Next Scheduled Election - April 2, 2024 General Municipal Election
Election Day: April 2, 2024
Polls Open: 6:00 a.m.
Polls Close: 7:00 p.m.
Last Day to Register: March 6, 2024
In Person Absentee Voting Begins: February 20, 2024
Military & Overseas Portal opens: February 13, 2024
Applications mailed to permanently disabled: February 16, 2024
No Excuse In Person Absentee (Early) Voting Opens: March 19, 2024
Note: You may not have an April 2 election in your area. Check your local election authority website for detailed voting information. To find your election authority go here: https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/goVoteMissouri/localelectionauthority
~~~~~
FIND EVENTS AND MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED HERE: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19AZUdtRH5WXefOC4Q5D9u-HyuzhBEL8rYX9Ospn3n18/edit?usp=sharing
MISSOURI MONDAYS NEWS SUPPLEMENT!
With so much important news each week we don’t want you to miss a thing! Check out our MISSOURI MONDAYS NEWS SUPPLEMENT here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13cokjWlCh2EkY5K6bM357rjVPizZDzxlMqjAuoBQfoI/edit?usp=sharing
THANK YOU! for staying informed and taking action to make a difference!
Invite your friends and neighbors to join us and sign up for Missouri Action Alliance and this Missouri Mondays weekly email at bit.ly/3pF99Uw
Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @MissouriAction, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MOActionAlliance and check out our website at http://www.MOActionAlliance.com
