Removing the Department of Revenue from the Concealed Carry Permit Process (HB 859)

While this week did not produce any new startling discoveries in regard to the ongoing Missouri Department of Revenue scandal, the House did take legislative action to ensure the department will never again release the personal information of concealed carry permit holders.

The bill we passed this week would take the department entirely out of the process of issuing concealed carry endorsements. Right now, Missourians can take their concealed carry permits to a local license office to obtain a photo ID showing the concealed carry endorsement. If the legislation we passed goes into law, our sheriffs would have sole responsibility for printing ID cards for concealed weapon permit holders.

Our sheriffs already take care of receiving applications, conducting background checks and issuing paper permits for concealed weapon holders. The change we propose would simply authorize them also to print a concealed weapon ID card, which would prevent the Department of Revenue from obtaining, or sharing, the private information of Missourians with a concealed weapon.

The bill we approved also would eliminate the renewal process for concealed weapons permits, which currently require a renewal fee every three years.

To monitor this bill in the Missouri Senate, please click on the following link:

http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB859&year=2013&code=R