County seeks court order to block gun law
By Phil Sutin
Of the Post-Dispatch
03/03/2004
St. Louis County plans to seek a court order that would prevent it from issuing permits for concealed weapons. Officials said Tuesday they hope to obtain an injunction before a state Supreme Court decision allowing for such permits takes effect.
County Executive Charlie Dooley on Tuesday ordered officials to collect information on the potential costs of issuing permits. The county would challenge the law allowing the permits as an unfunded mandate that violates the state constitution. Officials expect to have the cost data together by the end of the week.
"We have real costs - for fingerprinting and personnel," County Counselor Patricia Redington said.
In a letter to the County Council, Dooley quoted a 1992 council resolution declaring that widespread permitting of concealed weapons increases the possibility of violence, accidental death and injury. "I am strongly opposed to letting this happen in St. Louis County,"
