Well, first, it's MO, and each state has it's own unique set of laws, OK? What you do in yours might be a lot more liberal in terms of renewal.
Second, Greene County hosts the largest urban population in SW MO, with a lot of colleges. Not gun friendly.
I had exactly the same issue on my last renewal, called my office to schedule and pleaded ignorance. The system as it stands now is that they make no effort to inform you of your expiration date, it's entirely on you. Pay attention or suffer.
My understanding is that if your license expires you have to go thru another class, $100, and then submit all over again, $100. My county isn't real cheap either, it has a 1st Class rating with salaries determined by the state legislature - who set them about 40% higher than 2d Class. The reps from KC and STL apparently did it to protect themselves and force the smaller ones into line.
If you don't have a CCW, IIRC, you cannot open carry at the present time.
MO has been pretty progressive about CCW but with KC, STL, and Springfield also in the legislature it should be apparent that the pro 2A has it's work cut out to get anything thru the committees. No word at all if we will go Constitutional carry, and with our Amendment process being extremely open, it's become a third rail situation - we even passed a state constitutional amendment to budget stem cell research. Oh, yeah. NOBODY wants to be the one to actually fund it, tho.
So, it's not quite the bed of roses we sometimes make it out to be. No prior notice other than your own cognizance of the renewal date, no recognition of prior certification AFAIK, punitive scheduling ( I have never seen my local Deputy swamped for what amounts to a 5 min renewal,) no CCW no open carry.
Therefore you MUST be proactive - or throw yourself on the mercy of your local Sheriff - no, you can't go to some other county, it's 100% based on your county residence.
Them's the breaks, which reminds me I better start scheduling my next renewal in 18 months.
