State Bill Would Change Concealed Carry Process
By: Sarah Hatten
Updated: March 22, 2013
(ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) While the gun debate continues on across the nation, lawmakers in Missouri are working to make state-wide changes.
A new bill proposes eliminating concealed carry endorsements, and replacing them with certificates.
When applying to carry a concealed weapon in public, applicants would first have to visit the sheriff's department.
"We run a background check. Once the background check is shown to meet statutory requirements, we would then issue a certificate of qualification," said Captain Ted Markt, with the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department.
That certificate then goes to the department of revenue.
"Currently that's how it works. Then the department issues a drivers license with an endorsement for conceal and carry," said Markt.
But some Missouri lawmakers are trying to change that by proposing a bill that would take the department of revenue out of the process all together.
If passed, the sheriff's department would issue the permits.
This comes after a lawsuit was filed accusing the department of scanning personal information during the endorsement process.
Some worry the change would slow down a process people already want sped up.
"If they have to start doing all the paper work, it's going to take longer for people to get their carry concealed. And that's not what people want. They want to get their carry concealed as fast as possible," said Ryan Sullivan, owner of A-1 Gunrunners.
But Captain Ted Markt with the Sheriff's Department says the recent spike in applications has forced them to adapt, and if they need to, they'll do it again.
"We have a dedicated person that that's all they do. We've refined the way we handle it on our end based on the larger numbers we're seeing," said Markt.
Captain Markt says over the past few months, he's seen about a 300-percent increase in applications.
If the bill passes, people would have until February 2014 to convert their endorsements into permits at the sheriff's department.
A new bill proposes eliminating concealed carry endorsements, and replacing them with certificates.
When applying to carry a concealed weapon in public, applicants would first have to visit the sheriff's department.
"We run a background check. Once the background check is shown to meet statutory requirements, we would then issue a certificate of qualification," said Captain Ted Markt, with the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department.
That certificate then goes to the department of revenue.
"Currently that's how it works. Then the department issues a drivers license with an endorsement for conceal and carry," said Markt.
But some Missouri lawmakers are trying to change that by proposing a bill that would take the department of revenue out of the process all together.
If passed, the sheriff's department would issue the permits.
This comes after a lawsuit was filed accusing the department of scanning personal information during the endorsement process.
Some worry the change would slow down a process people already want sped up.
"If they have to start doing all the paper work, it's going to take longer for people to get their carry concealed. And that's not what people want. They want to get their carry concealed as fast as possible," said Ryan Sullivan, owner of A-1 Gunrunners.
But Captain Ted Markt with the Sheriff's Department says the recent spike in applications has forced them to adapt, and if they need to, they'll do it again.
"We have a dedicated person that that's all they do. We've refined the way we handle it on our end based on the larger numbers we're seeing," said Markt.
Captain Markt says over the past few months, he's seen about a 300-percent increase in applications.
If the bill passes, people would have until February 2014 to convert their endorsements into permits at the sheriff's department.
