Missouri HB 1232

This is a bill that is garnering a lot of attention due to the fact that it comes from Cynthia Davis (R)-MO of the 19th District. For those of you that don't know who she is, she garnered some attention by stating that, "hunger can be a powerful motivator."

HB 1232 deals with a Missourian's (lack of a) right to carry inside a church or a place of worship. The text is thus;

HB 1232 -- Unlawful Use of Weapons

Sponsor: Davis

Currently, an individual commits the crime of unlawful use of
weapons if he or she knowingly carries a firearm or other weapon
into any church or place of worship. This bill removes this
provision and allows any individual who is lawfully allowed to
possess the firearm or weapon to openly carry it into these
places.

To my everyday untrained eye, it seems to me that openly carrying your weapon is the only way to carry inside a church. In Representative Davis' own city of O'Fallon, open carry is specifically prohibited. In fact, Missouri law allows for open carry, but does not preempt open carry at the state level. Instead, it is left up to the individual municipalities to decide on their own. Representative Davis is a concealed carry permit holder and thus may carry concealed where it is legal to do so.

Now for me, I'd like to see open carry be state preempted here in Missouri. I also believe that by crossing the threshold of a place of worship that somehow God's or your gods hand will protect you is bogus. My god helps those who help themselves.