Police said a Kansas City gunshot detection system is reducing crime. And the veto of a Missouri “states' rights” gun bill appeared to be headed for an override vote. Steve Bell revisits those and other top stories of the week on KCUR's Saturday News Review.
MO Democratic governor vetoes gun bill, GOP threatens override
The Republican-controlled Missouri legislature's most controversial piece of gun rights legislation fell to Governor Nixon's veto Friday.
Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters-Baker agreed with Nixon that the bill was clearly unconstitutional and in violation of the federal supremacy clause. She added that it was an “pro-crime” bill because communities need and depend on federal gun law enforcement as part of their anti-crime efforts.
Republican House Speaker Tim Jones disagreed. He said the governor's interpretation was merely “legal theory” because federal laws can be declared unconstitutional. Jones said the GOP would caucus soon to decide whether to attempt to override the veto, which they could do if everyone votes the way they did the first time.
Nixon vetoes many bills, signs some
Nixon nixed a stack of GOP bills. He said one designed to prevent governments form stopping mention of Christian holidays would have invalidated fireworks ordinances... and that one forbidding any compliance with a UN resolution would have hamstrung local environmental rules.
He turned down a bill exempting minors from the sex-offender registry and one allowing foreign ownership of Missouri farm land, as he did one limiting accident lawsuits by uninsured persons and one exempting volunteer health care providers from liability.
Nixon called a bill that would have created an open on-line workers comp registry a violation of privcy.. and signed a bill forbidding scanning of personal documents that its sponsor, Will Kraus, said was about privacy.
Minority Leader accuses Brownback of “packing” Board of Regents
Democratic state senator Anthony Hensly accused Kansas Governor Sam Brownback of packing the state Board of Regents with Republicans. Hensley noted that one appointee was not counted against the maximum number of Republicans on the board though he was registered as a Republican till February.
Governor Brownback shrugged it off, commenting that “lots of Kansans” switch parties and he believes he nominated “qualified” board members/
310 Kansas governments seek delay of conceal-carry start
A total of 310 Kansas counties, municipalities and other local government entities asked for 6-month exemptions from the new state gun law allowing concealed carry in public buildings. The law requires concealed weapons be allowed unless certain security measures, such as metal detectors and guards are in place.
Local leaders said they needed more time to study the costs of security precautions before deciding whether to implement them. Republican bill co-author Forrest Knox said he wasn't surprised by the number that applied, but blamed the requests on people's “natural” tendency to embrace the status quo..
Police, Cleaver seek to expand gunshot detection system
Police Chief Daryl Forte announced”ShotSpotter,” a new gunshot detection system in a small area of Kansas City, Missouri, has cut aggravated assaults almost 25 percent there.
Forte proposed expanding the electronic surveillance system into four additional zones.
Congressman Emanuel Cleaver said he would seek federal funds to expand it.
Teen charged in father's shooting death
A gun in the hands of a 14-year-old took the life of his father at what was supposed to be a routine custody exchange.
Police did not discuss a motive, but there were reports of a contentious divorce and allegations of verbal abuse by the boy's father.
The teen was charged with first degree murder, and remains in jail this weekend.
Teen to serve more than 3 years for texting and probation violations
A 17-year-old girl who pleaded guilty to a fatal texting while driving accident in the Northland last year violated her probation and was sentenced to 3 ½ years in prison.
Court documents indicated the girl moved out of her parents home and took up residence with a boyfriend in defiance of hr probation/parole officer's disapproval, consumed alcohol at a party and missed numerous appointments with the officer. .