The citizens of Missouri, and every American, should oppose any gun legislation other than efforts to enforce existing laws prohibiting certain persons from possessing firearms, such as prior felons and those legally declared mentally unstable.  Background checks are instantaneous today, and many states have waiting periods of three or more days from date of purchase to date of pickup, unless the individual possesses a concealed weapons permit.  The second amendment should be upheld, as it says “…the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”  The vast majority of gun owners are law abiding citizens, and we must preserve our rights to possess any firearms we choose to own without interference.  We must fight any measures seeking registration of firearms, as this inevitably leads to confiscation as history has shown us time and again. If We the People allow our second amendment rights to be diminished by our legislators, we will have no defenses to protect our other Constitutional rights from a tyrannical government.

To quote George Washington:

"Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself.  They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence … from the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurrences and tendencies prove that to ensure peace security and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable … the very atmosphere of firearms anywhere restrains evil interference — they deserve a place of honor with all that's good."