Missouri House Approves Public Safety Bill
/The Missouri House of Representatives passed a sweeping crime reduction bill this week aimed to make Missouri a safer place for residents. The bill includes a provision for Blair’s Law which increases penalties for celebratory gunfire.
Representative Josh Hurlbert of the 8th District reported details in HB 1659 in his weekly Newsletter
The extensive crime reduction bill known as HB 1659 was passed this week by a vote of 120-26. Representative Josh Hurlbert of the 8th District reported details in HB 1659 in his weekly eNewsletter.
“Under HB 1659, offenders under 18 in the state’s correctional system would be physically segregated from older counterparts, with educational programs providing high school diplomas or equivalents,” writes Hurlbert. “The bill eliminates parole for offenders under 18 found guilty of second-degree murder involving, knowing, or causing another person's death, a departure from the current eligibility after 15 years, except for first-degree murder convictions.”
A second part of HB 1659 creates a taskforce to stop cyberstalking and harassment.
“With an estimated one million victims of online harassment or stalking in the U.S., the Task Force aims to develop prevention best practices, victim treatment guidelines, recommend training, coordinate law enforcement and victims’ rights groups, and create public education plans, starting its activities by October,” says Hurlbert.
Blair’s Law is a third part of the bill passed by the House. Blair’s law was named for Blair Shanahan Lane who was killed on July 5, 2011, from a stray bullet that was fired in the air.Since there isn’t a state law that focuses on celebratory gunfire, the bill states that firing a gun within or into municipal limits, would be classified under “unlawful discharge of a firearm.”
According to Hurlbert, other provisions in HB 1659 would:
Increase penalties for assaulting a law enforcement animal, up to a class D felony if the assault causes the death of the animal. Such crimes are currently a class C misdemeanor.
Expand the definition of a "persistent offender" to include a person who has been previously found guilty of a dangerous felony as declined by law, which includes crimes like first-degree rape and first-degree arson.
Restore minimum prison terms for offenders with prior felony convictions who are convicted of armed criminal action, and make armed criminal action an unclassified felony.
Add to the offense of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree the knowing encouraging, aiding, or causing of a child younger than 17 to engage in a violation of the law relating to weapons offenses.
Punish drug dealers by creating the class C felony of delivery of a controlled substance causing serious physical injury, and the class A felony of delivery of a controlled substance causing death.
KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story
