Blair's Law
This law makes it illegal to carelessly shoot a gun inside or into a town or city. There are exceptions — like shooting at certain gun ranges, hunting during open season, self-defense against an animal attack, or having a special permit from the police chief. A first violation is a misdemeanor, a second is a lower-level felony, and a third or more is a higher-level felony.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
571.031. Blair's Law — of a firearm, of — penalties. — 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as "Blair's Law".
2. A person commits the offense of unlawful discharge of a firearm if he or she discharges a firearm within or into the limits of any .
3. This section shall not apply if the firearm is :
(1) As allowed by a under chapter 563;
(2) On a shooting range that is:
(a) Indoor;
(b) Owned or operated by the state or any ;
(c) A commercial shooting range, including any range used by paying members; and
(d) Supervised by any person eighteen years of age or older;
(3) To lawfully take during an open season established by the of . Nothing in this shall prevent a municipality from adopting an restricting the discharge of a firearm within one-quarter mile of an occupied structure;
(4) For the control of as ted by the department of conservation or the United States Fish and Wildlife ;
(5) By of the chief of police of the municipality;
(6) As required by an in the performance of his or her duties;
(7) Using blanks;
(8) More than one mile from any occupied structure;
(9) In or person against an or ongoing animal attack unless the self-defense or defense of another person is a from the standard of care which a reasonable person would exercise in the situation to protect oneself or the other person from such animal attack and such person shall not have a duty to retreat;
(10) In of a against an imminent or ongoing animal attack, unless the defense of the domestic animal is a gross deviation from the standard of care which a reasonable person would exercise in the situation to protect a domestic animal from attack; or
(11) By law personnel, as defined in section 590.1040, or a member of the United States if acting in an official capacity.
4. A person who commits the offense of unlawful discharge of a firearm shall be guilty of:
(1) For a first offense, a ;
(2) For a second offense, a ; and
(3) For a third or subsequent offense, a .
Tap any gold-underlined word to see what it means.
Source & history notes
(L. 2024 S.B. 754, et al.)
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.