A Congressional move to mandate gun registration is putting Missouri lawmakers on edge.

U.S. Rep Blair Holt's proposed HR 45 would create a nationwide firearms licensing system, requiring owners to apply for five-year licenses. While a similar bill failed last year, State Rep. Jim Guest, R-King City, isn't taking any chances.

It's prompted the privacy advocate to file the Missouri Right to Protection Act (HB 632), a "pre-emptive tactic" that would prohibit any form of gun or ammunition tracking in Missouri.

Mr. Guest, who presented the bill to a House committee last week, said he believed the Congressional effort was an attack on the right to bear arms and would pose a burden on small businesses.

"The criminals are still going to have guns. They don't abide by our laws anyway," Mr. Guest said.

The bill also would extend the state's Castle Doctrine, which lays out Missourians' rights to use deadly force if someone unlawfully enters their home. Mr. Guest wants to broaden the language to include other parts of a person's property, not just the structural home.

HB 668 from Rep. Kenny Jones, R-Clarksburg, in the Statehouse also aims to extend the Castle Doctrine. Rep. Casey Guernsey, a Bethany Republican, is co-sponsoring the legislation.

"It covers the base on something as simple as standing at your mailbox and being attacked by an intruder, as well as cases such as cattle rustling or someone attempting to steal a piece of farm equipment," Mr. Guernsey stated in a legislative newsletter. "You are now able to react confidently to protect yourself and others around you. Cattle rustling and robbery of property outside of one's home is an increasingly common problem in our rural communities."

A House committee may consider Mr. Guest's HB 632 at a later date. The HB 668 that Mr. Guernsey is co-sponsoring has received approval from two committees and could move to the floor for debate soon.

Senate sends

controversial school proposals to House

The Senate passed an omnibus education bill from Sen. Charlie Shields, R-St. Joseph, last week.

Mr. Shields initially intended the bill to only address funding for virtual school programs in the state. Then he added language to SB 291 that attempts to fix a technical glitch that happened when voters approved Proposition A in November and removed casino loss limits. Extra state revenue that came in as a result went toward education funds, but conflicted with the way the funding formula is set up.

That opened the door for senators to attach about a dozen more education proposals to the bill, which they approved unanimously in a 34-0 vote on Thursday.

Mr. Shields said he believed the bill's most controversial components that likely will get changed during House debate were amendments that have teachers choose between tenure or pay-for-performance tracks and a funding proposal on how to treat capital improvements at K-12 schools.

Other added provisions include open enrollment for foster-care children, school district open record procedures and the establishment of teacher standards.

The bill needs approval from the House before it can go to Gov. Jay Nixon for a signature.

Alyson E. Raletz covers the state Legislature for the News-Press in Jefferson City. She can be reached at alysonraletz@npgco.com.