A bill to strengthen state employees' concealed carry rights sponsored by State Rep. Jeanie Riddle, R-Mokane, has been approved by the Missouri House with a bipartisan vote of 126-25 Thursday.
The House approved HB 533, which would allow state employees to keep a firearm in their car on state property if the vehicle is locked and the weapon is stored out of sight. The bill will now move to the Missouri Senate for consideration.
"We have state employees who have been denied the right to protect themselves when driving to and from work, and I believe it is our God-given right to defend ourselves," Riddle said on the House floor during discussion. "The bill is simply about giving our state employees the same rights that so many other citizens have."
The bill covers legislative, executive and judicial branch employees and only to the state as an employer when the employee's vehicle is on property owned or leased by the state, and the employee is conducting activities that fall under their job duties.