Tragedy in Missouri
The shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis on Monday has renewed calls from Democratic state legislators for changes to Missouri’s loose guns.
They are likely to be disappointed when the Missouri General Assembly reconvenes in January.
Republicans, who dominate the state legislature, haven’t joined Democrats in supporting additional restrictions on firearms in the wake of the shooting.
Hello, I’m Jonathan Shorman, The Star’s lead political reporter. I’m guest-writing this newsletter while Daniel Desrochers is away.
It’s a sad week in Missouri as the state became the latest to grapple with gun violence on school grounds. A 19-year-old gunman killed a student and teacher and wounded seven others at the school before police shot and killed him.
The tragedy has spurred a call for reform from the White House and gun control advocates, but it’s unlikely that call will be answered in Jefferson City.
Republican Gov. Mike Parson made clear he wouldn’t support wholesale changes to state gun laws.
“It’s just really unfortunate that everyone wants to go to the political point of the guns when you have a tragedy like this,” Parson told St. Louis station Fox 2.
Parson in 2021 signed into law the Second Amendment Preservation Act, or SAPA, which prohibits state and local law enforcement from enforcing certain federal firearms laws. The U.S. Department of Justice has sued to block the law.
Even without SAPA, Missouri already had some of the most lenient gun laws in the country. Individuals are allowed to carry concealed weapons without a permit. The state also does not have a “red flag” law that allows authorities to temporarily confiscate weapons from individuals who may be a danger to themselves or others.
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones at a news briefing said the “time for thoughts and prayers are over” and called for action.
“The actions of the legislature in recent years have made gun violence far more likely to occur in our city and state,” Jones said.
The Associated Press reported that the mother of the St. Louis gunman had called police earlier this month wanting her son’s gun removed. Officers determined he lawfully had the gun, however.
“Our country has suffered far too many mass shootings, our students do not feel safe at school, and here in St. Louis, we know the impact of gun trauma all too well,” State Rep. Rasheen Aldridge, a St. Louis Democrat, said on Monday.
“The horror today illustrates the continued need for Jefferson City to act,” Aldridge said. “We must pass laws that will prevent tragedies like today, not enable or exacerbate them. I know myself and several colleagues have offered solutions that have fallen on deaf ears in the past.”
More from Missouri
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas contended a mailer in support of state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer’s reelection violated state law because of the use of photos of KCPD officers. It’s a tough claim to prove, but it’s the second time this month that images of law enforcement officials came under scrutiny in a Missouri election. Lucas’ comments after the primary marijuana legalization campaign pulled footage of a trooper from an ad following outcry from the Missouri Highway Patrol.
- Lucas claims KCPD photos on campaign mailer violated state law, Jonathan Shorman and Andrea Klick
- Eric Schmitt isn’t running for president. Staff error causes speculation, Kacen Bayless
- After St. Louis shooting, Busch Valentine calls for gun reform, Daniel Desrochers and Jon Shorman
- Trump puts out video in support of Eric Schmitt, Daniel Desrochers
- Student test scores plummet in Missouri and Kansas, new data shows, Sarah Ritter
And across Kansas
Politics can be a real drag sometimes. The Daily Mail, a British tabloid, reported that Kansas taxpayer dollars had gone to Wichita drag shows. Both the Kansas Department of Commerce and the events’ organizers said that was inaccurate, but that didn’t stop Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt from demanding Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly to apologize. Kelly in turn called on Schmidt to apologize for spreading misinformation.
- Kansas Commerce says no state money went to Wichita drag shows, Katie Bernard and Chance Swaim
- Young women turned out for abortion in Kansas. Will they be a force in November? Katie Bernard and Daniel Desrochers
- Adkins attacks Davids on inflation in Kansas congressional debate, Daniel Desrochers
- Johnson County Sheriff’s Office posts misinformation on ballot question, Katie Bernard and Jon Shorman
- Kelly admin, Schmidt campaign respond to declining test scores in Kansas, Katie Bernard and Sarah Ritter
The latest from Kansas City
In Kansas City…
- ‘Visionary’ Mayor Charles Wheeler dies, Steve Vockrodt and Katie Moore
- Kansas City police sergeant pleads guilty to assault that injured teen, Glenn E. Rice
- Raymore officials oppose rumored landfill. KC officials deny it’s being planned, Jenna Thompson
Have a news tip? Send it along to jshorman@kcstar.com
Odds and ends
New Pyle ad
As the race for Kansas governor enters its final stretch, independent candidate Dennis Pyle’s ads remain unlike anything else in the race.
Pyle is a state senator who left the Republican Party to run an independent campaign. He has portrayed both Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Republican state Attorney General Derek Schmidt as too liberal.
Earlier this week, Pyle released a new 30-second ad that includes an image of a fetus and appears to be voiced by a young girl. The ad alludes to the dispute over transgender athletes in women and girls’ sports.
“My dream is to compete in girls’ sports against biological girls,” the voice says, as the image of the fetus is on screen. “I am practicing every day and praying for Dennis Pyle for governor.”
Kelly has twice vetoed a ban on transgender athletes in women and girls’ sports, which Schmidt has promised to sign into law if elected.
University transparency
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, on Wednesday introduced a bill aimed at improving transparency and diversity among firms that manage assets for college and university endowments.
In 2020, Cleaver and Rep. Joseph Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, released a report that found a lack of diversity among the asset managers who handle investments for major university endowments.
The new legislation will require regular data collection about investments with women and minority-owned firms, and require a regular report that recommends ways to increase the use of women and minority-owned firms in higher education investment.
“In the year 2022, it is simply unacceptable that nearly 99% of assets controlled by the $82 trillion asset management industry—which influence where, when, and with what segments of the economy to invest—are overseen by White men, when we know that there are qualified women- and minority-owned firms that can fulfill these duties to the same, or even better, degree,” Cleaver said in a statement.
Attack backfire
It’s not uncommon for a candidate to attack an opponent over a vote to raise taxes. What’s less common is to attack your opponent over bills you voted for.
Kansas state Rep. Steven Johnson, the GOP nominee for state treasurer, attacked incumbent Democratic Treasurer Lynn Rogers in a new ad for voting for a 2017 income tax increase that both candidates supported as members of the Kansas Legislature.
On top of that, a previous version of the ad attacked Rogers over a 2015 tax vote. Rogers wasn’t elected to the Legislature until 2016. Meanwhile, Johnson did vote for the 2015 sales tax increase.
Happy Friday
Think Kansas and Missouri politics are wild? Check out the United Kingdom, which this week welcomed its third prime minister this fall. Start your weekend with Bruce Springsteen. And there’s less than two weeks to go until the election, so have a strong classic Manhattan.
Enjoy your weekend.
Looking for more?
Think this newsletter is missing something? Think I’m fabulous? Think I’m a moron? Send your reactions to ddesrochers@kcstar.com.
For more politics news, follow @Kacen, @KatieJ_Bernard, @drdesrochers and @jonshorman.
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