This decision was handed down last Friday, and the Post Dispatch only carried the story today...
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/ne...ument&Headline=St.+Louis+County+wins+in+court
St. Louis County wins in court
By Heather Ratcliffe
Of the Post-Dispatch
10/12/2004
St. Louis County does not have to issue concealed gun permits a judge has ruled in sustaining its claim that the enabling law is an unfunded mandate that violates the Hancock Amendment.
Cole County Circuit Judge Thomas J. Brown made the ruling Friday in Jefferson City.
County Executive Charlie A. Dooley lauded the decision in a press conference, saying, "This is a great victory for our community and the law enforcement in St. Louis County."
Officials said processing each application would cost county taxpayers $71 more than the law allows to be charged.
"It would put a financial strain on the county Police Department," said county Police Chief Jerry Lee.
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in February that the law allowing people with permits to carry concealed firearms was constitutional but that counties did not have to comply if they could show their costs were not covered.
Some sheriffs - including those in St. Charles, Jefferson and Franklin counties - have already issued permits. Permits are not being issued in St. Louis, St. Louis County and Jackson County.
Leaders in the Missouri Legislature said lawmakers would most likely try to fix the funding issue next year. State Attorney General Jay Nixon said he was considering an appeal of Brown's decision.
Nixon expressed frustration Tuesday that court challenges continue to complicate the issue. "When it comes to something like concealed weapons, we don't need different rules in different jurisdictions in Missouri," Nixon said. "This would not be necessary if the Legislature had come back and done the fixes we asked them to do."
Dooley said St. Louis County officials fought the mandate on behalf of voters who overwhelmingly opposed the concealed weapon law when the issue was on the ballot in 1999.
The ruling does not affect the portion of the law that allows many drivers over the age of 21 to carry a concealed weapon in a vehicle anywhere in the state. Residents of other counties who have been issued concealed carry permits can bring their weapons into St. Louis County, Lee said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reporter Heather Ratcliffe:
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 314-863-2821
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/ne...ument&Headline=St.+Louis+County+wins+in+court
St. Louis County wins in court
By Heather Ratcliffe
Of the Post-Dispatch
10/12/2004
St. Louis County does not have to issue concealed gun permits a judge has ruled in sustaining its claim that the enabling law is an unfunded mandate that violates the Hancock Amendment.
Cole County Circuit Judge Thomas J. Brown made the ruling Friday in Jefferson City.
County Executive Charlie A. Dooley lauded the decision in a press conference, saying, "This is a great victory for our community and the law enforcement in St. Louis County."
Officials said processing each application would cost county taxpayers $71 more than the law allows to be charged.
"It would put a financial strain on the county Police Department," said county Police Chief Jerry Lee.
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in February that the law allowing people with permits to carry concealed firearms was constitutional but that counties did not have to comply if they could show their costs were not covered.
Some sheriffs - including those in St. Charles, Jefferson and Franklin counties - have already issued permits. Permits are not being issued in St. Louis, St. Louis County and Jackson County.
Leaders in the Missouri Legislature said lawmakers would most likely try to fix the funding issue next year. State Attorney General Jay Nixon said he was considering an appeal of Brown's decision.
Nixon expressed frustration Tuesday that court challenges continue to complicate the issue. "When it comes to something like concealed weapons, we don't need different rules in different jurisdictions in Missouri," Nixon said. "This would not be necessary if the Legislature had come back and done the fixes we asked them to do."
Dooley said St. Louis County officials fought the mandate on behalf of voters who overwhelmingly opposed the concealed weapon law when the issue was on the ballot in 1999.
The ruling does not affect the portion of the law that allows many drivers over the age of 21 to carry a concealed weapon in a vehicle anywhere in the state. Residents of other counties who have been issued concealed carry permits can bring their weapons into St. Louis County, Lee said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Reporter Heather Ratcliffe:
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 314-863-2821
I'll wave as I go by.
