Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has vetoed legislation that would have allowed residents to carry firearms in public without needing to get a permit and necessary training first.
Under the proposed law, individuals could have legally carried a concealed firearm "even though they have been or would be denied a permit because their background check revealed criminal offenses or caused the sheriff to believe they posed a danger," Nixon said.
Eliminating the permit requirement "would make Missouri less safe" and "render meaningless the existing authority of sheriffs to deny concealed carry permits," the governor added.
The Kansas City Star reports that Missouri law allows for "open carry" wherever it's legal, but a concealed weapon requires a permit.
To obtain a permit, the applicant must complete a gun safety training class and pass a criminal background check.
The Republican-controlled legislature, which had backed the bill, could now attempt to override the veto.