An ex-judge, a criminologist and an ex-legislator hope to give St. Louis and Missouri counties a way to adopt tougher gun restrictions than those in state law.

The city of St. Louis and Missouri counties could enact gun restrictions tougher than those in state law under a plan that supporters hope will go before state voters next year.

A new nonprofit, Sensible Missouri, hopes to launch a petition drive to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the November 2024 ballot. It would allow county-level governments and St. Louis city to approve their own rules on the access and carrying of firearms.