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Talking Points for contacting sports franchises

• We are disappointed that Missouri sports franchises would risk alienating so many of their law-abiding fans who have a legitimate right to choose to protect themselves and their loved ones from violent crime.
  
• All of these sports franchises play away games in right-to-carry states. No firearms-related incidents have occurred in sports stadiums in connection with law-abiding permit holders in these states and many of these stadiums have no prohibitions against legal permit holders carrying their firearms.
  
• Under Proposition B, any business, including sports stadiums, could post a sign banning firearms from their premises. Such a ban is legally enforceable under Proposition B and violators are subject to penalties that could include revoking their permit. This posting law already works for the Tennessee Oilers, the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Carolina Panthers.
  
• In addition, the Pennsylvania teams play under a right to carry law that does not require any training while Missouri's proposal requires completion of a state certified training course. Even under that less-stringent law, no incidents with legal permit holders have occurred at a Pennsylvania sports venue. Pennsylvania's law has been in effect for ten years and about 637,000 permits have been issued.
  
• The Washington State teams play in a state that has had a concealed-carry law wince 1961. In those 38 years, they have not had a single incident with a firearm that involved a legal permit holder.
  
• People who apply and are approved for a permit under Proposition B are law-abiding adult citizens who have passed an extensive criminal background check as well as a firearms safety course. They have followed the law up until now and they will continue to do so.
  
• The security risk is from criminals carrying illegal firearms. Criminals are the source of crime, not law-abiding citizens who are exercising their right to self-protection. It is the criminals that make passage of Proposition B so important for law-abiding Missourians.
  
• None of Missouri's sports teams take special security measures like metal detectors to guard against the threat of criminals carrying illegal guns into their facilities. It is unfortunate that they are more afraid of their loyal, law-abiding fans than they are of violent criminals.
  
• While the sports franchises oppose giving their law-abiding fans the right to self-protection, wealthy owners and players who have safety concerns can hire private armed security to protect them from violent crime. That is not a luxury the average Missouri sports fan can afford.

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