Missouri: Gun-Free Businesses May be Held Liable for Disarming Citizens

By Jenn Jacques

In Missouri, newly elected Representative Nick Schroer has introduced a bill which would hold establishments posted as “gun-free” accountable for any injuries as a result of a law-abiding citizen being disarmed.

Brilliant.

House Bill 96 would allow any citizen authorized to carry a firearm to sue a business if they become injured by another person or animal as a result of being unable to defend themselves due to the business’ election to designate their property gun-free.

If the injured person could otherwise have used a gun for self-defense, they could sue the business, which “assume(s) custodial responsibility for the safety and defense of any person” on their property who could carry.

The newly-elected Missouri lawmaker cited attacks including James Holmes’ shooting rampage at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado which left 12 dead and dozens more wounded. Schroer said by electing to deem the property a gun-free zone, the theater “almost put a target on the back of all the customers there that had to disarm themselves.”

After extensive work with House research staff to draft his bill, Schroer said the inspiration for HB96 had come from a similar law in Tennessee. That bill, SB 1736, was only passed after …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms