Citing concerns about his inability to protect himself in crime-ridden areas of St. Louis, Republican Missouri state Rep. Ron Hicks has introduced a bill that would allow concealed carry on Missouri’s public transportation. While House Bill 1938 would not apply to school buses or interstate railways, it would apply to city buses, taxicabs, metro systems and other modes of public transportation—preventing passengers who had already received a concealed-carry permit from having to leave their self-defense firearm at home.
“Quit disarming me when I’m down there trying to protect myself and my family,” Hicks said when he presented the bill before the House Committee on Emerging Issues on Wednesday.
While Hicks acknowledges the NRA-supported bill is unlikely to pass this session, he says it’s important to start a discussion on these matters in hopes of educating both lawmakers and constituents about the safety implications of continuing to prohibit the carry rights of those utilizing public transportation.
