Kansas City, Missouri has been in the spotlight recently due to a deadly shooting that occurred during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade. This tragic event has once again brought attention to the city’s record-breaking homicide rate and the state’s gun laws. One person lost their life, and 22 others were injured when gunfire erupted outside Union Station. Two juveniles have been detained in connection with the shooting, while a third juvenile initially detained was later determined to be uninvolved.
Kansas City has been grappling with a rising homicide rate in recent years. The Kansas City Police Department’s daily homicide analysis report for 2023 revealed that there were 182 homicides, surpassing the numbers from previous years. The majority of these homicides involved firearms. However, it is important to distinguish between the daily crime rates and this public attack during the Super Bowl parade. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who was present at the parade, expressed his disappointment and emphasized the difference between typical neighborhood troubles and a mass shooting at a public event.
Missouri, as a state, has also garnered attention for its gun laws. In 2021, it ranked ninth in terms of gun deaths in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence has labeled Missouri as having some of the weakest gun laws in the country. While the state began allowing concealed carry permits in 2003, it repealed the law requiring a permit to buy a handgun in 2007. This change resulted in a significant increase in firearm homicides, as indicated by research from the American Journal of Public Health.
One concerning aspect of Missouri’s gun laws is the lack of background checks and restrictions on certain types of firearms. Residents of Missouri can purchase firearms without undergoing a background check, and there is no ban on assault weapons according to state law. Furthermore, Missouri’s House voted against a proposal to ban minors from openly carrying firearms in public without adult supervision. The argument against this ban was that it is not enough to assume that a 14-year-old would harm someone. However, this decision has raised concerns about the potential dangers posed by minors carrying firearms.
In an effort to strengthen gun rights, Missouri passed the “Second Amendment Preservation Act” in 2021, which aimed to protect the right to bear arms and penalize law enforcement for enforcing federal gun laws. However, in 2023, a federal U.S. District Court judge ruled that the law was unconstitutional.
The deadly shooting at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade has shed light on the concerning combination of Kansas City’s high homicide rate and Missouri’s lenient gun laws. The tragedy has sparked a renewed discussion on the need for stricter regulations and measures to address gun violence. As the city and state grapple with these issues, it remains to be seen what actions will be taken to ensure the safety of residents and prevent future incidents.
