Failed gun background check legislation moves out of committee

Today, the Public Safety Committee of the Board of Aldermen unanimously passed Board Bill 106 out of committee. 

“I’m thankful that my colleagues on the Public Safety Committee agreed with the importance of this bill. It helps to remove illegal guns off our streets by arming investigators with additional information. This bill will better protect our residents against those prohibited people who attempt to buy guns. It's one small step in a much larger fight to end gun violence in our City,” said Board of Aldermen President Lewis Reed. 

The legislation, sponsored by Reed, establishes reporting requirements for licensed firearms dealers. The legislation requires the dealer to report when a firearm purchase is denied from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department. 

The new law will prohibit people who attempt to buy guns and fail the background check from creating a serious public safety threat. In fact, the data shows that 30 percent of criminals who try to buy a gun and fail the background check are rearrested within 5 years. This common sense piece of public safety legislation will alert law enforcement that a potential crime has been committed, empowering them to intervene before a person with a dangerous history get their hands on a gun.

“The increase of guns within our City has negatively impacted all of those who reside, work and play in the City of St. Louis. It’s hard to watch the news or read the paper without hearing or reading about another incident involving a firearm. We have to do something to reduce the chance of a weapon ending up in the wrong hands,” said Reed. 

Various organizations support efforts against gun violence throughout our City. Karen Rogers, volunteer chapter leader with the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America agrees with the action being taken at the Board of Aldermen. “Preventing gun violence takes more than words - it takes action. Once again, city officials are acting to make St. Louis safer. This is a meaningful step that will help law enforcement investigate people who try to buy guns despite being legally barred from doing so,” said Rogers.