Blunt, McCaskill disagree on meth, concealed guns at forum

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Gubernatorial candidates Matt Blunt and Claire McCaskill disagreed during a forum Friday on strengthening laws for methamphetamine crimes and publicizing the names of concealed gun permit holders.

Each relied heavily on their state office experience -- she as Democratic state auditor, and he as Republican secretary of state -- and proclaimed they would better represent the views of Missourians if elected Nov. 2. The forum was sponsored by the Missouri Press Association.

Blunt said he supported a state law that makes it illegal for law officers to disclose the names of concealed gun permit holders -- even though separate applications to sheriffs to purchase guns have been open records for years.

"I would be opposed to the public release of that information," said Blunt, 33, of Springfield. "I would view it as some sort of step toward registration of gun ownership."

McCaskill, 51, of Ladue, said she saw no reason for the names to be kept secret. She said that provision was only one of her points of contention with the concealed guns law, enacted when the legislature overrode Gov. Bob Holden's veto last year. She also pointed to a provision that allows people without a permit to carry a gun in their vehicle's glove box, saying it presents a threat to law enforcement.

"I think everyone has a right to own guns. My father had a lot of them, and I grew up around them," McCaskill said. "But if we are going to have everyone carrying weapons in the state and we are going to be registering for them, I think it's important that the records be made public."

The two also proposed different approaches to dealing with methamphetamine. Law enforcement officers seized 2,860 meth labs in Missouri last year, the most in the nation.

Blunt said he would take a tougher approach to dealing with the illegal drug by proposing a three-strikes law for all offenders. It would mirror a federal criminal law that requires prison time for a third conviction.

"I think three-strikes laws work," he said. "They've worked for states like California. I think one would work here."

McCaskill pointed to the skills she honed as Jackson County prosecutor in dealing with drug crimes, saying a three-strikes law would fill prisons with drug users while leaving violent offenders on the streets.

She proposed a statewide, multi-jurisdiction task force that would, among other things, carry out sting operations and inform residents of how to spot mobile meth labs. A similar effort cut the number of meth labs in Jackson County in half from 1996 to 1998, she said.

Libertarian John M. Swenson, 64, of Kirbyville, also participated in the forum. Swenson, who also was the party's gubernatorial nominee four years ago, got several laughs.

When asked about fighting meth, Swenson responded: "I guess it's because the economy is down, and they want to make some money. They probably figure, well this is the only job we can get. It's like back in the moonshine days."

Meanwhile, Blunt and McCaskill also clashed over fixing Missouri roads and the proposed Constitutional Amendment 3 on the November ballot, which would reduce the amount of state highway user fees and taxes transferred to agencies other than the Missouri Department of Transportation.

Blunt accused McCaskill of speaking out against the diversion of fuel tax dollars only after it became an election issue. McCaskill, however, said it was her office's audit that first brought the issue to light. McCaskill said she immediately initiated a plan in her office to turn back the money.

Both candidates agreed millions of dollars could be added to meet the transportation department's needs, including additional revenue to pay off bonds for construction projects.