Historic Vote: Missouri General Assembly Passes Hunting Heritage Protection Areas Act Unanimously in Both Chambers

Bill Awaits Governor Blunt’s Signature

Fairfax, VA—The Missouri General Assembly unanimously passed the National Rifle Association (NRA)-backed Hunting Heritage Protection Areas Act, sending it now to Governor Matt Blunt’s desk for signature. SB 225, sponsored in the Missouri Senate by State Senator Bill Stouffer (R-21) and in the State House by Representative Brian Munzlinger (R-1), will preserve important wildlife habitats and hunting opportunities for future generations in Missouri.

“This is a great day for hunters and outdoorsmen all across the Show-Me State,” said Chris W. Cox, NRA’s chief lobbyist. “Missouri has a proud, time-honored hunting heritage, and we are pleased to see the General Assembly take such decisive action to protect and preserve the various wildlife and rich habitat Missouri has to offer.”

With nearly two-thirds of North America’s migratory waterfowl passing through the Missouri flyway each year, the protection of critical wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities has been among NRA’s top priorities this legislative session.

In an extraordinary move, the Hunting Heritage Protection Areas Act passed unanimously out of both chambers of the General Assembly. Senate Bill 225 passed the State Senate, 32-0 and in the State House, 158-0.

“On behalf of our thousands of Missouri NRA members, I want to thank the Missouri General Assembly for their overwhelming, bi-partisan support to protect Missouri’s abundant outdoor life and hunting lands,” concluded Cox. “I especially want to thank Senator Bill Stouffer and Representative Brian Munzlinger for their joint leadership in passing this important legislation. We look forward to seeing this bill become law.”

-NRA-
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen's group.  Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime.  The Association remains the nation's leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.