Guns and felons

It would seem, to the average Missourian, that a law that says felons cannot have firearms means ... anyone convicted of a felony cannot own or possess a gun.

Right?

No.

As Morley Swingle, Cape Girardeau County's prosecuting attorney, has observed, the state statute regarding the possession of firearms by felons is so full of holes that it is virtually impossible to prosecute such charges. That's because the law only applies to specifically listed felonies, leaving out a bunch that includes robbery and sexual assault. And the law only applies to concealed weapons. Plus, the law only affects felons who have been convicted or got out of prison in the past five years.

Swingle has written a to-the-point letter to legislators pointing out the pitfalls of Missouri's law regarding felons and firearms. We join him is his request that the legislature tighten the law in an effort to keep guns out of the hands of convicted felons.

Currently, only 10 felons a year are convicted under the current law -- in the entire state. Swingle thinks that a ridiculous statistic. We agree.