Butler Co. to take gun carry permits April 1

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Butler County residents can apply for concealed-carry permits beginning April 1 at the Sheriff's Department. The Butler County Commission passed a resolution this morning allowing the sheriff to take applications and issue permits that allow the holders to carry a concealed firearm. "The majority of people in Butler County voted for concealed-carry, and we feel we need to allow them to apply for the permits," said Presiding Commissioner Joe Humphrey.

Sheriff Bill Heaton said that beginning April 1, applications for concealed-carry permits will be taken at the Sheriff's Department between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Those applying for the permit should bring a money order for $38 made out to the Missouri Highway Patrol and a check or money order for $50 made out to the Sheriff's Revolving Fund. Applicants, who must be age 23 or older, also must have a certificate of completion of an approved firearm training course, which are available locally, and a photo ID.

During the application process, which Heaton estimates will take about 30 minutes, applicants will fill out an application, be fingerprinted and photographed and a preliminary background check will be run. The Sheriff's Department then will send the fingerprints to the Highway Patrol for a criminal background check. Those with a felony conviction, ex parte or protection orders or who have been patients in mental hospitals cannot receive a concealed-carry permit.

The permit will be issued when the Sheriff's Department receives notice from the Highway Patrol that the applicant is approved for the permit or, as required by the law, in 45 days if the background check has not been completed in that amount of time.

Heaton said he and the Butler County commissioners decided to begin issuing the permits even through the Missouri Sheriffs' Association is advising counties to wait until the state legislature reworks the wording of the concealed-carry bill.