Missouri mother relieved to watch law criminalizing reckless gunfire go into effect

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - One Missouri mother feels like she can finally breathe now that a law she’s advocated for is going into effect.

Wednesday, several new laws go into effect in Missouri, including Blair’s Law. The new law criminalizes reckless gunfire within Missouri cities’ limits.

“To be able to take a deep breath, I’m really looking forward to that,” said Michele Shanahan DeMoss.

Blair’s Law is named after Shanahan DeMoss’s daughter, who was killed by celebratory gunfire on July 4, 2011. The 11-year-old girl was struck and killed by a bullet fired by someone from across the lake while celebrating Independence Day with friends and family.

For the past 13 years since Blair’s death, Shanahan DeMoss has advocated for this law.

“I just truly don’t want anybody else to have to walk in shoes like I have,” Shanahan DeMoss said.

READ MORE: Governor Parson signs Blair’s Law years after Kansas City child’s death

Under this new law, it is a crime to recklessly shoot a gun within any Missouri city limits. Penalties for breaking this law range from a Class A misdemeanor to a Class D felony, anc could lead to one to seven years in prison and a fine of $2,000-10,000 dollars.

Over the years, Blair’s Law was carried by many different people, but it was Kansas City Democrat Rep. Mark Sharp who finally carried it to the end.

“I’m hoping that we can try to stay in that same vein and tap more into that next session,” Sharp said.

Sharp knows firsthand the heartbreak that reckless gunfire can cause, after losing his best friend in college.

“He was the victim of indiscriminate gunfire at a party when gunfire erupted, and he shouldn’t have lost his life,” Sharp said. “Blair shouldn’t have lost her life, and there’s many others who shouldn’t have lost theirs.”

Sharp is working with the Missouri Police Chiefs Association to make sure the transition to enforcing Blair’s Law goes smoothly.

Last year, Blair’s Law was vetoed because of an unrelated provision that would have had the state compensate people who were wrongly accused.

As her years of political advocacy come to an end, Shanahan DeMoss plans to continue educating people on gun safety. She said it’s what Blair would’ve done.

“No matter what part of her life she’d be helping people,” Shanahan DeMoss said.

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