Gubernatorial candidates Hanaway and Greitens make Cape stops

Republican gubernatorial candidates Catherine Hanaway and Eric Greitens made stops in Cape Girardeau this weekend.

Hanaway stopped at Shooters Gun Shop, 335 Christine St., as part of her statewide tour Friday afternoon, and Greitens -- a former Navy SEAL -- delivered a guest address Saturday evening at the Marine Corps Ball.

During her tour, Hanaway has focused her campaign on a number of issues, including abortion and agriculture legislation, but focused Friday on gun regulation.

"The overall theme [of my tour] is to restore conservative values to Missouri. ... I think there are too many restrictions on law-abiding gun owners," Hanaway said. "And the penalties aren't strict enough on violent felons who carry firearms."

Included in Hanaway's firearms-regulation platform is a call to make Missouri a "constitutional-carry" state, which means Missouri residents who have not been convicted of a felony would be able to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

Eric Greitens, second from right, was presented with a piece of birthday cake Saturday night to commemorate the 240th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps during the Marine Corps Ball at the Drury Lodge in Cape Girardeau. (Tyler Graef)

"It's only law-abiding citizens who are getting concealed-carry permits anyway," she said.

If enacted, Missouri would become the eighth state to feature such regulations.

She said, as in other states, her proposal would not extend to all guns, such as long guns, but instead would apply only to firearms permissible under current concealed-carry regulations.

"Anything that you can lawfully carry today, you'd be able to carry without a permit," Hanaway said.

She also said the change would not mean concealed weapons would be permissible anywhere and everywhere.

"Private businesses should have the right to restrict what happens on their premises," she said.

If elected, she said, Missouri residents still would be able to obtain concealed-carry permits but would need them only for traveling outside the state to an area without constitutional carry.

She also advocated for mandatory minimum sentencing for violent felons who possess firearms and those who use firearms to commit felonies. The former would carry a minimum sentence of five years in prison; the latter would require five years for a first offense and 10 years for each successive conviction.

"For criminals who hurt people with guns, we want them to go to jail for a long time," she said.

Shooters Gun Shop co-owner David Lange said he thought Hanaway had some good ideas.

"She has some good views on things, and she said that overregulation has become a big problem," he said. "And I'd have to totally agree with her."

Greitens' campaign also is focused on conservative values, and he and Hanaway have expressed a desire to defund Planned Parenthood and standing against what they see as EPA intrusion into Missouri farmers' livelihoods.

But the Marine Corps Ball where Greitens spoke was celebrating the 240th birthday of the U.S. Marine Corps. Rather than stump on policy, he thanked the veterans gathered for their service and explained what he admired about traditional Marine values.

During his time as a Navy SEAL, Greitens said, he served alongside many Marines and was glad to do so. He shared a story from one of his deployments where his Fallujah, Iraq, barracks were the focus of a suicide truck bombing.

Greitens was injured by the blast, although not as badly as some other soldiers.

"The first person to come to my side," he said, "was a U.S. Marine."

Greitens said the last thing he heard the soldier say before Greitens was taken to the hospital was, "Yes sir, I've got your back."

Although the soldier died weeks later protecting men in his unit, Greitens said his conduct exemplified the fighting spirit he saw in Marines.

"I admire every one of you who took an oath to defend our country and defend our Constitution," he said.

He added he was sure Marines around the world also were celebrating the Corps' birthday, even if all they had was "an MRE pound cake and a canteen of 'bug juice'" -- a soldier's typical field rations.

He spoke about how the principles honed by training and combat don't expire upon returning from duty. Greitens used his service pay, along with two partners who donated their disability pay, to establish a not-for-profit organization called The Mission Continues, which helps veterans more effectively contribute to their communities through volunteer work and service.

"Our mission does not end when we hang up the uniform," he said. "We still need you."

He said the inspiration came in conversations with wounded veterans. He asked many what they wanted to do more than anything else. Almost to a man, they told him they'd like to rejoin their unit and return to service, Greitens said. That wasn't an option, but their second-choice answers often displayed the same spirit of self-sacrifice and service, such as teaching or coaching.

Helping to build a stronger sense of purpose in returning veterans, Greitens said, creates a stronger community.

Greitens, a recipient of a Purple Heart, Bronze Star and other military honors, said the Marine Corps emblem -- the eagle, globe and anchor -- is itself a badge of honor.

"Your courage, your dedication, your sacrifice," he said. "That's what gives it value."

tgraef@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3627

Pertinent address:

335 Christine St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

104 South Vantage Drive, Cape Girardeau, Mo.