Gov. Parson speaks on rally shooting; Rep. introduces legislation restricting firearms at parades in Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Many local and state leaders from both sides of the state line were at the Chiefs’ victory rally when shots were fired, including Missouri Governor Mike Parson (R). 

On Tuesday, KCTV5 spoke with Gov. Parson on the shooting, his thoughts on charges, gun laws, and local control. 

Gov. Parson said he was on the other side of the stage when shots went off at Union Station. 

He said now it’s about figuring out how the community heals from this, but also solving gun violence in Kansas City and across the state. 

“How things are occurring in today’s society we all need to try and figure out what is the real root problem,” said Parson. 

Gov. Parson said bottom line, we need to figure out what is creating the issues before the gun, which he partially blames on a lack of prevention education. 

“I think there is much more to it than just the day it occurs. And I think those are some of the things we need to be talking about we need to talk about where is all the violent crime happening? Who are the victims of violent crime,” said Gov. Parson. 

When asked about changing local control for guns, Gov. Parson said the first thing local governments need to do is enforce the laws they have. 

“We are a long way from enforcing what laws are on the book you know about people what they do and what they can do with weapons and the legalities of it now look everything that happened with that day was illegal period,” said Gov. Parson. 

He said state leaders all bear responsibility for what is happening in Missouri relating to gun violence. 

In Jefferson City, Democrats recently introduced legislation to allow cities to have gun ordinances and enforce them.

Grandview Representative Anthony Ealy was also at the parade shooting. He introduced a change in regulations at parades when it comes to firearms.

“The fact that they were able to even have guns in their backpacks on their persons around hundreds of thousands of people it is just crazy and there has to be an answer to that,” said Grandview Rep. Anthony Ealy (D). 

Rep. Ealy hopes this legislation provides checkpoints at parades and doesn’t allow firearms into the area of celebration. 

“I want us to as a state acknowledge the reality of how dangerous guns can be in these settings, it doesn’t matter if you’re trained or not,” said Rep. Ealy. 

As for the two juveniles involved, Gov. Parson believes justice should be served. 

“By in the means of it almost killed other people in that particular time. I think they should be charged as an adult and I think they should definitely be an example these are things you don’t do,” said Gov. Parson. 

Parson also mentioned the recent shooting at Crown Center and said nothing seems to have happened out of that. 

He said he knows everyone wants to talk about the gun issue, but he wants to look into what is the root problem of this violence.