Hazelwood Revises Firearms Bill After Gun Owners’ Protests
BY JEANETTE EBERLIN RIZZELLO
The Hazelwood City Council has scrapped the original bill that would have prohibited hunting and use of firearms in the city. Before a crowd of 255 persons on Tuesday, they adopted a new bill allowing hunting and use of firearms but spelling out rules and regulations built around the safety and protection of the residents. It will go into effect in September of 2008.
City Attorney Kevin O’Keefe told the crowd that the previous bill had been very hurriedly written to ensure that Hazelwood had something in place before a state’s law came into force on Aug. 28. The new adopted bill contained sections pertaining to public health, safety and welfare.
There were 12 persons who spoke at the meeting but only six of them were residents, and they mostly supported the gun owners’ rights.
Two speakers commended the council for the new bill’s containing a provision for competitive shooting after getting a permit.
Police Chief Carl Wolf reported at the meeting that, at the council’s request, he had conducted a public forum several days ago and met with representatives of the NRA, National Rifle Association, and Missouri Department of Conservation.
Both representatives, Whitney O’ Daniel, with the NRA, and Joel Porath with the conservation department, told the council they had approved Hazelwood’s new legislation.
———-Aug. 15th Council Meeting
After the meeting Mayor T. R. Carr said, “The City of Hazelwood is responsive. We only act after we’ve gathered all the facts; and that’s what we did tonight.”
The municipal actions were prompted by the Missouri Senate Bill 225 which denies local control over hunting and discharge of firearms in “hunting heritage” areas. Those areas are defined as the 100-year floodplains of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.
Hundreds of individuals, residents and non-residents, had jammed council chambers, halls and the lobby, and had spilled out onto the outdoor area leading to the parking lot. Microphones were installed in the halls and lobby so the crowd could hear the proceedings.
Mayor T. R. Carr said at the Aug. 15 meeting that city staff is still researching options for the ordinance, looking at possible modifications and communicating with the Missouri Department of Conservation.”
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