Perkins Backs Move To End Red Flag Gun Orders

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins, a Republican from Bowling Green, is sponsoring legislation that would significantly limit the use of so-called “red flag” gun laws in the state.

House Bill 2176 would prohibit state and local authorities from enforcing any red flag gun orders, including court actions that temporarily remove firearms from individuals deemed to pose a risk to themselves or others. The proposal would also block cooperation with any future federal red flag laws.

Perkins said the bill is aimed at preventing what he views as government overreach, pointing to states like Massachusetts as examples of policies he believes go too far. He told Missourinet that allowing firearms to be taken from someone who has not committed a crime represents an excessive expansion of government authority, arguing that such interventions rarely improve outcomes.

The bill would also lower the minimum age to apply for a concealed carry permit from 19 to 18. Perkins said the change would align Missouri law with other legal thresholds of adulthood, such as voting and military service, calling the current age limit inconsistent.

Democratic House Minority Leader Ashley Aune of Kansas City raised concerns about the proposal, particularly its impact on families dealing with mental health crises. She said red flag laws can provide an important safeguard when loved ones are unable to intervene themselves, and warned that eliminating those tools could put both individuals and the public at risk.

Aune emphasized that her opposition is not rooted in opposition to the Second Amendment. She noted that she is a gun owner herself and supports constitutional gun rights, but said she believes due process and public safety measures can coexist. According to Aune, many gun owners support laws that allow temporary intervention during crises to prevent irreversible harm.

If passed, HB 2176 would impose civil penalties of up to fifty-thousand dollars per violation on any state or local agency that attempts to enforce a red flag order, creating a strong deterrent against such actions even if authorized elsewhere.

The bill is expected to generate continued debate as it moves through the Missouri legislature.