Addressing Gun Violence: Blair’s Law Continues to Advance, What You Can Do

Cassie E. Brown, MSW, LCSW and the NASW-MO Lobbying Team

As your NASW-MO Executive Director, I reached out to membership after the tragic events of the shooting in Kansas City on February 14, 2024 at the Super Bowl Rally for the Kansas City Chiefs. In this letter, I offered resources for organizations working for commonsense solutions for gun violence. I also explained NASW-MO’s ongoing support for Blair’s Law and asked our members to reach out to support it as well.

The House passed language to specifically criminalize the negligent discharge of a firearm in municipal limits.  This language, also known as Blair's Law, is a bipartisan effort in response to an 11-year-old girl killed by celebratory gunfire in Kansas City in 2011.  This is a small, common sense step Missouri can take to reduce accidental firearm deaths in the state.  Blair's Law was passed by the General Assembly last year on a public safety omnibus bill, which was vetoed due to unrelated provisions.  

Last week, the House passed a wide-ranging public safety bill (HB 1659) that includes Blair's Law by a vote of 120-26.  The language is on numerous bills, including HB 1477 and SB 754.  

Especially in the wake of the recent shooting in Kansas City, any opportunity to address gun violence in Missouri is valuable and potentially lifesaving.  

I ask you again now: Please contact your Legislators to encourage them to support and prioritize passing Blair's Law language this session.