Letter: Moms urge action on gun legislation: ‘The safety of Missourians is in your hands'

OPINION|

by Angela Allen, Springfield

As reported in the Hauxeda, March 27 was Advocacy Day at the Capitol for Moms Demand Action.

We spoke to legislators about four bills that we are against and one that we want. Gun safety legislation is considered taboo in Missouri, the 38th worst state to take measures to protect its citizens from gun violence. Our organization uses research and statistics gathered by Everytown for Gun Safety in America. We have numbers that show our rates of gun violence and measures that our state legislature can take to prevent it.

We spoke to legislators about red flag laws, extreme orders of protection, if you prefer. This is a tool that law enforcement and family can use to prevent suicide, domestic violence murders, and mass shootings. We know the lives at the performance art school in St Louis would have been spared had the parents and law enforcement had the ability to remove weapons from the shooter. Veterans know that being able to temporarily remove guns would be life saving for many who take their own lives by gun. Nineteen states have these laws, states that are national leaders in gun prevention and considered making progress (they have one-third fewer deaths per 100,000 people than Missouri). Yes, New York, California, and Illinois experience less gun deaths per 100,000 than we do.

We were sent to discuss two bills, one that expands the school personnel who can carry a weapon in school; one that expands the shoot first and right to prevent pesky backlash of a bystander's liability and right to a civil case. The majority of educators and parents do not need the deadly complication of firearms in the learning environment. Students are already dealing with mental health areas of security and anxiety.

Finally, after the shooting that turned into a mass shooting in Kansas City during the Super Bowl Championship parade, Democrats came up with a “repeal the preemption” measure that will allow Kansas City and St Louis to determine their own policies that reflect the gun issues they have.

Springfield will soon be even closer to these larger metropolitan areas in its need to establish such policies. Minority Leader Rep Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, led off the legislation with 40 representatives following suit in submission of the same language.

I noticed in Jefferson City this year that representatives that have skin in the game, those from areas with more gun violence, show more emotion about the issue. You can tell the passion and interest of a politician by their words connecting to their beliefs. You can always recognize the party line.

To all the legislators in Jefferson City, the safety of Missourians is in your hands and should not be taken lightly.

If you don't want to live with fear for your children at school, for going to any public places, for the mental health of your loved ones: Pay attention to the upcoming elections.

Angela Allen is the Community Gun Violence Prevention Lead for the Springfield Moms Demand Action Group.