The Missouri Legislature, dominated by rural and suburban lawmakers, has spent years loosening the state’s gun laws. In 2016, the Legislature passed legislation to allow nonfelons to carry concealed weapons without a permit. Other laws preempt local regulation of firearms, so local law enforcement is unable to do much even if a gun is visible.

Krewson brought up the issue at the monthly board meeting of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, the regional planning arm whose board is made up of St. Louis area political leaders.

“Having a permit to carry a gun is really not a big ask,” she told the Post-Dispatch after the meeting. “It’s not a big ask. It’s for our police officers.”

The mayor noted that she is from Moberly, Missouri, and understands the perspective of rural residents, but “that is a different situation than what we face in our cities.”

If they won’t take it up in the special session, Krewson said she will advocate for lawmakers and Parson to address the change during the regular legislative session next year and “allow us to say, in the city of St. Louis, you can still have a gun, you can still carry a gun, but you need a permit to carry it.”

Krewson said she has spoken to Parson, a former county sheriff, about the issue.