[popeye]

My dad's side of the family has lived around Joplin for 150 yrs. My great grandfather faught for the South in around the area in The War of the Northern Aggression. If there was ever a state that should have liberal gun laws it's Missouri. My grandmother had told us stories of hiding local criminals in the basement during the depression (these guys robbed banks and were considered heros by the locals) Are the oppressive gun laws a result of lawless activities during this period?

[popeye]

In re-reading my post I can see how it might be offensive to Missouri folks. If offense was taken I appologize. I'm just curious why Missouri having a large rural population and a history of hunting, fishing and all, would have such restrictive laws as compared to my home state of Indiana.

[another okie]

There are many theories for that, one of which is what you just stated.

others:

1. influence of Illinois
2. dominance of urban voters; rural voters being thinly spread out
3. many laws passed during Progressive period of American history, 1890-1914, when banning alcohol, guns, tobacco, drugs, etc. was considered the path to an earthly paradise
4. large German immigrant population, which brought with them idealistic socialist ideas and a trust in government not really typical of Anglo-Americans
5. Traditional slack enforcement of tight gun laws on white males, who therefore see no need to loosen the laws

[Mithrandir]

I believe that you will find that the reasons for gun control in Missouri stemmed from the Border wars (civil war in the west)

I, also have (and had) family in Joplin and Springfield with the "Other" side of the family located in and near Kansas City (MO).

I cannot remember the original title of the order (something like 'General order Number 6") but the Federal troops issued a war order the effectively removed my family from Jackson county and some surrounding areas of Kansas City. they did it by telling them that if they DID NOT sign & Swear allegiance to the UNION (not the flag by the way) their lands were forfit and they must leave the county.... by force if neccessary. This affected most of the county as they, for the most part, were all originally from Virginia and North Carolina with immigrents from Germany thrown in.

The relatives around jolpin took some of them in and the rest (my "Quaker" side of the family) moved to Argintine and Turner on the Kansas side. where they were harrased and attacked regularly by the "Jayhawkers" and renegade Missouri "Red-legs" (hire thugs of the state).

Now.... that is NOT the whole story, but just a start... other Kansas City ordinances were passed to disallow carrying of pistols such as the Earps forced upon the Kansas cow-towns and later Pendergast enacted the first "Must have a permit" to get a pistol. Of course, if you had political (as in Democrat) leanings... it was easy... if not... you didn't get one.




out...

[bogie]

Actually, most gun laws can be traced back to the Jim Crow laws, and in this case were designed to be enforced against blacks, and ignored against whites.

Most states have since done away with the shameful legislation, but a few backwards ones, such as Missouri (at the moment...) and Illinois have retained it. Please write/call your state representatives and encourage them to erase that shameful era from the law books.