Why is gunfire is so deadly in Kansas City? Missouri’s outdated laws | Opinion

The first time I ran from gunfire, I was at middle school track practice. Shots rang out nearby and we scattered. We should have been focused on preparing for our race, but suddenly we were running for our lives. No child should experience it, yet too many Missouri children do.

Today, gunfire is deadlier, more frequent and enabled by outdated laws.

As Jackson County prosecutor, I’m dedicated to building strong communities and ensuring victims obtain justice. But some laws in our state — or the absence of them — make our collective mission for public safety difficult. We must make commonsense changes to save lives in every corner of our state, from Kansas City to Hannibal and from Nixa to Jefferson City.

Glock switch epidemic

One alarming trend is the increasing use of Glock switches or auto sears. These small, deadly devices transform handguns into fully automatic weapons capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute. Even trained professionals struggle to control them. More bullets mean more bystanders potentially caught in deadly crossfire.

The Kansas City Police Department recovered 34 switches from crimes in 2022. By 2025, that number jumped to 96, a nearly 200% increase. Nationwide, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reports that switches recovered at crime scenes nearly doubled between 2022 and 2023.

While federal law bans switches, our federal prosecutors, with heavy caseloads and limited resources are often unable to prioritize simple possession cases. Without a state-level offense, it’s difficult for police and state prosecutors to intervene. We’re left waiting, while detectives continue to recover hundreds of bullet casings from crime scenes.

Other states aren’t waiting. Alabama made Glock switch possession a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. New Mexico also banned them. As a gun owner myself, I believe in our right to lawful gun ownership. But these laws don’t restrict our rights. They ban deadly modifications that are outgunning officers and endangering Missourians. A statewide ban of Glock switches would save hundreds of lives.

Juveniles carrying guns

Federal law also prohibits juveniles from possessing firearms, but Missouri law does not.

Currently, when officers encounter an armed teenager, they can confiscate the weapon but are called to return it to the juvenile’s parent or guardian. Many times, the firearm ends up right back into the young person’s hands.

While my office only handles juvenile cases certified through Family Court, every day we see the tragic consequences when young people have easy access to firearms.

Clarity on ‘minor assault’

A recent Missouri Court of Appeals decision has prosecutors statewide alarmed. It allows individuals to legally respond to a minor assault with deadly force.

A shove or a punch to the arm, would legally justify pulling a gun and shooting someone to death, therefore legalizing second-degree murder. Virtually any unwanted physical contact will warrant the use of deadly force. In communities where altercations often escalate to gunfire, we cannot afford this.

It also creates an impossible burden for us as prosecutors, requiring us to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant didn’t have a reasonable fear of being shoved.

I ask legislators to clarify that minor assaults, including third-degree assault and any assault without serious physical injury or death, should not justify deadly force. Not only would it prevent unnecessary violence, but it would still protect legitimate self-defense.

Another dangerous gap in our self-defense law has led to legally justified shoot-outs. Two rivaling groups or individuals encounter each other and within seconds there’s a spontaneous combustion of gunfire. The problem is, by law, self-defense often applies to shoot-outs because we cannot identify the initial aggressor. So, we can’t prosecute either side, even if an innocent bystander is killed in the crossfire.

Neither party in these shootouts is acting in self-defense if they both agreed to engage in violence, whether through their body language, texts, or verbally. There must be a modification of the law. If parties agree to meet for a violent confrontation, they cannot claim self-defense.

Talk to lawmakers

If we have the tools to serve real consequences, we can prevent senseless violence.

Victims deserve action. My proposals would allow police and prosecutors to protect neighborhoods and truly hold violent offenders accountable.

We need Missourians to make their voices heard. Tell state lawmakers to ban Glock switches. Tell them you want guns kept out of children’s hands. Tell them you don’t want a shove to justify homicide.

These issues are neither Democratic nor Republican. They are about protecting our streets, supporting law enforcement and ensuring justice for all.

That middle schooler running from gunfire at track practice deserved better. Missouri children deserve better. Our communities are counting on us, and their lives matter more than politics.

Melesa Johnson is Jackson County prosecutor.