Missouri: Right-to-Carry Permit Privacy Update

Recently, Missouri media have reported that the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) initiated a new procedure of scanning and keeping personal documents related to the issuance of your driver’s license and right to carry permit.  This procedure violates the "spirit of Missouri law" prohibiting the state from abiding by the federal REAL ID Act, an intrusion into your privacy. 

In response to learning of this abuse of public trust, House Speaker Tim Jones (R-110) ordered hearings on the issue, and the House passed state Representative Todd Richardson’s (R-152) House Bill 787.  The Senate then passed state Senator Will Kraus’s (R-8) sponsored Senate Bill 252, legislation limiting the DOR's ability to scan, store, and share your private information.  Currently, both SB 252 and HB 787 are in the other respective legislative body awaiting committee assignments. 

In a committed effort to protect your privacy, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Kurt Schaefer (R-19) issued binding subpoenas requesting that the DOR turn over all relevant information regarding this issue.  Senator Schaefer and the members of the Appropriations Committee also held multiple hearings on the matter.  During the investigation and hearings, the Appropriations Committee learned that the Missouri Highway Patrol downloaded the entire list of Right-to-Carry Permit holders and sent it multiple times to unauthorized federal agents at the Social Security Administration, in the mail, and made it available for them to download online. 

During repeated hearings and questioning, the Committee determined that the information from the Departments of Revenue, Public Safety, and Highway Patrol were not very forthcoming with concrete reasons on why your personal information was compromised.

The Committee, understanding that these departments and agencies which are responsible for the safekeeping of your privacy, is not satisfied that your gun owner privacy will be protected, and has now acted to protect your privacy regarding Right-to-Carry Permits.

Just last night, the Senate Appropriations Committee funded a new process to allow the Missouri sheriffs, who are elected by you the voter and who are responsible, to handle the issuance of permit certificates and the permits themselves.  This process is not complete, and you must contact your state Senator and urge him or her to support the Senate Committee substitute to House Bill 8 when it comes to a vote next week in the State Senate.  This legislation is sponsored by state Representative Rick Stream (R-90).

Contact information for your state Senator can be found here.

Furthermore, the Senate Appropriations Committee is holding hearings in the following Missouri cities to receive your input on the budget process.  Please try and attend these important meetings and thank the Senate Appropriations Committee for taking the appropriate steps to protect the privacy of Missouri's permit holders. 

Springfield
Friday, April 19
1PM-3PM
Executive Conference Center
Renaissance Room
910 West Battlefield Rd
Springfield, MO 65807 

Kansas City
Saturday, April 20
10AM-12PM
North Kansas City Community Center
999 Iron Street
North Kansas City, MO 64116 

Cape Girardeau
Friday, April 26
1PM-3PM
Cape Girardeau Public Library
711 N Clark St
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 

O'Fallon 
Saturday, April 27
10AM-12PM
Christian High School-Commons Area
1145 Tom Ginnever Ave
O'Fallon, MO 63366   

Since the very beginning, your NRA-ILA has been working closely with legislators to learn about the impact on law-abiding permit holders in Missouri and supports legislation that addresses this injustice.  Your NRA-ILA will continue to champion this effort to protect the privacy of Missouri residents and permit holders from bureaucrats and the agencies wishing to add your name to a gun owner database.  Please stay tuned for more information in the coming days.