Democrats blast Missouri bill that would nullify gun buy-back programs

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KY3) - State lawmakers debated a Missouri bill that would render local gun buy-back programs irrelevant.

The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Tony Lovasco, a Republican from O’Fallon, would ban any local government or law enforcement agency from destroying a gun without offering it at least two separate times in a public auction for just $1. The policy would effectively render any local gun buy-back program irrelevant, which is typically aimed at reducing the number of guns on the street.

State Rep. Lovasco contended that the way many local agencies dispose of firearms is wasteful.

“The reality is, it’s more about surplus property,” Lovasco told the committee members. “We don’t normally destroy perfectly good working equipment that the state has no use for just out of spite, but with firearms, for whatever reason, we do exactly that on a regular basis.”

The policy stoked the ire of the committee’s Democrats, who referred to recent deadly shootings and asked State Rep. Lovasco how he believed the victims of those shootings and their families would feel seeing the weapon used in the crime sold for auction and returned to circulation.

Lovasco conceded the point and argued that his bill was not meant to apply to guns used in the commission of a crime. He said he’d support carving out those specific weapons from the policy.

Still, Democrats blasted the policy as an attack on even the mere effort to reduce the amount of guns in circulation, many of which remain at risk of theft or loss.

“Every day, we sit here and talk about gun violence, and we beg for hearings on bills to address gun violence,” said State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis. “And instead, we’re talking about a bill to protect the guns because guns are getting destroyed, and how can we handle that? I’m sorry, Representative, I consider you a friend. But I’m angry at seeing this right now.”

The previous day, House Speaker Dean Plocher interrupted Democratic state Rep. Eric Woods, ruling him out of order as Woods delivered remarks on the House Floor about a recent shooting and the need for more gun safety laws.

“Points of personal privilege are not a time to make political speeches,” Plocher posted on social media. “We were not debating gun rights but welcoming guests. When it’s time to debate gun rights, I’ll be ready when the liberals try to take away our guns while letting criminals go free.”

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade sent a public memo admonishing Plocher’s move.

“Uncomfortable or not, they were words you and your party needed to hear, and things Rep. Woods had every right to say on behalf of his district as a matter of personal privilege, which by definition is the opportunity for members to speak on subjects of importance to them. You had no right to censor or silence him.”

House Majority Floor Leader Jon Patterson said he doesn’t expect any legislation on gun laws, either loosening or tightening them, to pass through the Missouri House under the current General Assembly.

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