Lawmakers override governor's vetoes on concealed-weapons, voter ID bills

Missouri lawmakers on Wednesday overrode Gov. Jay Nixon’s vetoes of bills to loosen the state’s gun laws and impose new voter restrictions after lengthy debate.

The gun law allows people to carry a concealed weapon without a permit and without undergoing any training.

Individuals previously had to undergo training and obtain permits from their sheriff’s office to legally carry concealed weapons.

The measure also expands the state’s “castle doctrine” by allowing invited guests such as baby sitters to use deadly force against intruders.

The voter law requires eligible voters to show photo identification to vote at the polls.

Senators voted 24-6 to approve the concealed-weapons bill. The House subsequently approved the override Wednesday night, 112-41.

Supporters said the measure strengthens the ability of Missourians to protect themselves and their families.

The National Rifle Association lobbied lawmakers to approve the gun bill, calling it a top priority of the group.

Several law-enforcement groups in Missouri opposed the bill, arguing it could jeopardize public safety.

Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, voted with the majority in overriding vetoes of both bills.

Wallingford said he is not concerned about eliminating training or the permit requirement for concealed weapons. He argued people will seek proper training without any state requirement.

Wallingford, a member of the NRA, said he was lobbied not by the NRA but by his constituents who heavily favored allowing people to carry concealed weapons without a permit.

He said four or five other states have experienced a decrease in gun violence since enacting similar concealed-carry laws.

He said the veto override offers Missouri the “potential for a decrease in gun violence.”

As to the voter-ID bill, the House voted 115-41 to override the veto.

The Senate subsequently voted 24-7 in favor of the override after more than two hours of debate. Republicans used a procedural maneuver to end debate and vote on the bill.

A two-thirds majority in the House and Senate were required to override a veto.

The legislation would require voters to show a photo ID beginning in 2017 if a separate proposed constitutional amendment authorizing a photo-ID mandate is approved on the November ballot.

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in 2006 the state constitution bars such a mandate.

Missouri’s proposed requirement contains exceptions that would allow voters, who swear they don’t have photo IDs, to vote by showing other forms of identification. The bill also requires the state to pay for photo IDs for those lacking them.

Cape Girardeau County’s two Republican state representatives — Kathy Swan of Cape Girardeau and Donna Lichtenegger of Jackson — voted for the override.

The legislation sets the framework for photo identification should voters approve a constitutional amendment in November that would mandate photo identification for voters to cast ballots.

Swan said in an email Wednesday night it would “ensure additional accountability and validity in our elections.”

Critics said it would disenfranchise minority voters. But the two state representatives and Wallingford rejected such criticism.

“You can’t live in this economy if you don’t have an ID card,” Wallingford said before the noon start of the veto session.

Lichtenegger said the legislation “is not disenfranchising anyone.”

Critics, including some Democratic lawmakers, suggested the voter-ID law may be unconstitutional. Lichtenegger said before the start of the veto session the legislation should withstand legal scrutiny because of a provision that requires the state to provide photo IDs for those who can’t afford such identification.

Lawmakers also overrode vetoes on a number of other issues.

Companies that switch to employee ownership will be eligible for a new tax break under a measure that was enacted by lawmakers after the governor vetoed it.

The Republican-led Legislature voted Wednesday to override Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s veto of the measure. It will allow businesses to get an income tax deduction of 50 percent of their net capital gain earned for switching to employee ownership.

Companies can claim the deduction if employees own at least 30 percent of securities. The deduction expires in 2023.

Lawmakers also voted to enact legislation that will allow industry-backed commissioners to replace public representatives on the Clean Water Commission.

The Associated Press provided some information for this story.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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