SB 1337 would create a new section of Missouri law defining and prohibiting certain firearms and ammunition feeding devices commonly described as “assault weapons” and “large capacity magazines.” The bill sets out detailed definitions covering semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns with specified features, as well as conversion kits and magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds, with limited exceptions for certain tubular magazines and permanently altered devices.
The bill would make it unlawful in Missouri for any person or entity to manufacture, import, possess, purchase, sell, or transfer an assault weapon or large capacity magazine. It includes exceptions for government officers, armed forces members, and peace officers acting within the scope of duty, for licensed manufacturers and dealers selling to those authorized entities, and for persons who already legally possessed the items before the effective date and continue to do so. A violation would be classified as a class C felony.
Impact
SB 1337 would add a new firearms restriction to chapter 571, RSMo, effectively banning the commercial and private circulation of defined assault weapons and large capacity magazines in Missouri, subject to narrow exemptions. It would create new criminal liability for prohibited conduct and would affect gun owners, firearms dealers, manufacturers, law enforcement agencies, and military personnel, while preserving grandfathered possession for existing lawful owners.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee debate or votes, the measure appears to be a straightforward gun-control proposal with no documented legislative discussion in the provided materials. The structure and penalties suggest a serious regulatory approach, but there is no available evidence here of support, opposition, or amendments from committee members or floor action.
Contention
The main points of contention inherent in the bill are the breadth of the “assault weapon” definition, the prohibition on possession as well as sale and transfer, and the treatment of large capacity magazines. Likely areas of dispute include whether the bill would affect commonly owned firearms, how the grandfather clause would work in practice, and whether the exemptions for law enforcement, military, and preexisting owners are sufficient. No specific legislators or stakeholder groups are identified in the provided transcripts or vote history.