Gov. Mike Parson forgets what he told KC mayor about gun laws. How convenient
Remember when we gave Missouri Gov. Mike Parson credit for calling the new gun reform measures that Kansas City has enacted under Mayor Quinton Lucas a matter of “common sense”? Never mind.
Two months ago, Parson even said he was “optimistic” that the state would follow suit, and would make it harder for minors and those with a history of domestic abuse to get or keep handguns.
“If you are going to be involved with domestic violence, and you start involving weapons in it, that needs to be addressed,” Parson told reporters in November. “I think that that’s a reasonable ask, of what the mayors are asking to do.”
But as it turns out, we were overly optimistic in supposing that the governor meant what he said that day, after one of his meetings with the mayors of Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield and Columbia about the gun violence that’s an epidemic not only in urban but also in rural areas, where sky-high suicide rates are 25% higher than in cities.
In November, Parson spoke in support of some red flag laws. But now, he can’t seem to recall that. Instead, when asked about it, he says — and this is a paraphrase — Second Amendment, Second Amendment, Second Amendment. As if Missourians were dying from a shortage of firearms.
He never supported any gun reform, he told St. Louis Public Radio. “One of the things me and the mayors agreed on was that we weren’t gonna talk about gun control to speak of,” Parson said. “They knew where I was at on the issue; I knew where they were at.”
In an interview, Lucas said, “I remember my conversation with the governor.”
“I could’ve sworn both I and the press corps said wow, it’s impressive we’ve gotten this commitment.” Lucas will continue to hope Parson honors that commitment at some point. “I understand it’s a tough legislative year in an election year.”
Still, Lucas said, “you can support the Second Amendment and still say somebody already convicted of serious violence” should not be able to buy or keep guns. Of the seven homicides in the city already this year, several involved domestic violence.
He said his conversations with Parson convinced him that the governor does understand all of this. “I’m not disappointed yet,” he said, leaving open the possibility that Parson will change his mind again. “It’s early in the session.”
In last week’s State of the State address, Parson praised his relationship with the mayors of Missouri’s major cities and their mutual “respect and willingness to listen to one another.”
But what’s respectful about pretending to agree, and then pretending you never did any such thing?
It’s also unclear how well Parson really listened, given his current view that “red flag laws, and whatever the definition of a red flag law is, I haven’t been supportive of that. I don’t even know what the definition of that is, and I don’t think a lot of people know. The bottom line, I’ve been pretty clear. When it comes to law-abiding citizens, I’m going to protect the Second Amendment. Period.”
Domestic abusers are not law-abiding citizens, Governor. And red flag laws are no mystery. Also known as extreme risk protection orders, red flag laws allow authorities to temporarily seize firearms from people who are considered imminent threats to themselves or others. A judge has to grant the order, so where’s the lack of due process?
A PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll in September of 2019 showed 72% support for red flag laws, which 17 states have. Even President Donald Trump has praised them. “We must make sure that those judged to pose a grave risk to public safety do not have access to firearms,” he said immediately after mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. “That is why I have called for red flag laws.”
Not surprisingly, however, the president too has since changed his mind, and across the country, gun rights supporters are pushing to instead become “Second Amendment sanctuaries” where those who can’t get a gun under red flag laws elsewhere are still welcome to carry.
As we’ve said before, more (and more) guns can’t ever be the antidote to out-of-control gun violence. Feigned support won’t ever build trust. And if we want officeholders who can remember what they said, we’re going to have to hold them accountable on Election Day.