Governor’s Column: Lawful ownership of a firearm is an individual right

James Madison once said, "Americans have the right and advantage of being armed – unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." And Madison was right. This is an unalienable and individual right and it is a right that some liberal groups and politicians are constantly seeking to erode.

My administration has a strong record of accomplishment for standing up for the Second Amendment rights of Missourians. In 2007, I signed legislation ensuring that law-abiding Missourians would maintain their right to possess firearms in natural disasters, the very time when they may need firearms most. I also signed the Castle Doctrine, a legal concept protecting the right of law-abiding Missourians to treat their home as their castle and defend it, without the fear of being sued.

I was also very pleased to sign legislation last month which builds on these achievements and again affirms the Second Amendment rights enjoyed by law-abiding Missourians.

Previously, when a new resident moved to the state of Missouri, they would have to wait for six months if they wanted to apply for a conceal and carry permit. There really is no reason to impose a half-year waiting period before honest, law-abiding citizens can take advantage of an existing state law. The legislation I enacted changes that. Once a citizen proves legal residence in the state, they will be allowed to apply for a concealed carry permit.

The legislation also gives civil immunity to owners of firearm ranges protecting them from frivolous lawsuits. Owners of these ranges were actually being sued by people who built homes or moved next door to a firing range, then complained about the noise that guns made. Law abiding citizens, conforming to the established rules and regulations set forth by a firing range should not be punished for firing a gun.

Coincidentally, on the day I signed this pro-Second Amendment package, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling affirming the freedom and right of law-abiding Americans to own firearms. It was a decision I quickly commended. The ruling is a blow to those groups and liberal politicians who oppose gun rights and who seek to sabotage the Second Amendment rights of Missourians and all Americans.

It is important for all supporters of the Second Amendment to recognize that the Supreme Court’s decision was not unanimous. It was a 5-4 decision demonstrating the importance of one vote on our nation’s highest court and the importance of who is appointed to it in the future.

Missourians maintain a deep reverence for the freedoms guaranteed by the Second Amendment. My administration has a proud record of supporting those freedoms for law-abiding Missourians. We understand that our Constitution and Bill of Rights were created to limit the powers of government, not the rights of the people.