Missouri guns miss legal mark in Texas

ST. LOUIS -- Missouri's concealed gun permits will not be honored in Texas because of concerns that Missouri permits can be issued before a federal fingerprint criminal background check is complete.

Texas officials notified Missouri Gov. Bob Holden of the policy on Wednesday, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported in its Thursday editions.

Missouri's concealed-weapons law requires a sheriff to conduct a criminal background check on applicants before issuing a license. However, if the check is not completed within 45 days, the sheriff must issue the license anyway. Later, if the background check comes back showing the applicant should be disqualified, the sheriff must revoke the permit.

Texas officials said it was not possible to know from a Missouri permit whether the background check had been completed.

"With no way to distinguish between those Missouri concealed handgun licenses issued in accordance with what Texas law requires and those issued under other circumstances, it is not possible at this time to effectuate reciprocity," said a letter signed by Becky Pestana, an assistant attorney general in Texas.

Holden spokeswoman Mary Still said the letter reinforced Holden's "long-held belief" that the concealed guns law should be repealed.

The legislature enacted Missouri's law last September by overriding the Holden veto. The law allows most Missourians age 23 and older to receive concealed weapons permits from their local sheriffs after passing a firearms training course, submitting to a background check and paying a fee.

Texas officials said recognition of Missouri's permit might be reconsidered under one of two conditions: If the permits could not be issued before completion of the federal criminal background checks, or if the permits issued before completion of the federal checks could be distinguished from those issued based on the completion of the background checks.