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A Troy, Missouri man has his prized gun back thanks to an apparent change of heart by the thief, following an emotional appeal on Facebook.

KSDK-TV  reports that Chad Smith of Troy discovered Saturday that his Smith & Wesson pistol had been stolen. The gun had been handed down to him from his father.

Both Smith and his dad worked as pastors. Smith currently runs a ministry for troubled kids. He suspected one of them may have stolen the gun.

Smith posted a video offering forgiveness for the thief. Word spread through friends and strangers about the video.

On Sunday - Father's Day - the gun turned up on Smith's porch.

An East St. Louis man is headed back to prison after being found with a gun.

Willie Springer was found with an SKS rifle after running from an officer during a traffic stop. Springer's previous conviction made it illegal for him to own the weapon.

The investigation was conducted by the WAVE Task Force--which was assembled to combat violent crime in East St. Louis.

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — The city council in a St. Louis area town is considering a bill that would declare any federal, state or local laws prohibiting guns to be in violation of the U.S. and Missouri constitutions, rendering them invalid in the town.

The measure has been proposed in O'Fallon. The Suburban Journals of Greater St. Louis reports it could be subject of a vote on March 28.

Co-sponsors Jim Pepper and John Haman Jr. say the bill would not invalidate existing laws but protect the rights of residents to bear arms. But Councilman Bob Howell questioned the need for the bill and urged major revisions. Howell says that while he supports protecting gun rights, he believes the bill puts the city in the position of passing an unconstitutional law.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Missouri legislation could land teachers and doctors in trouble if they ask students about gun ownership or note such information from patients on medical records.

A state Senate committee heard testimony Tuesday on a bill that would bar school personnel from asking students whether their parents or guardians own guns. Violators could face a $200 fine.

The bill would also bar medical professionals from putting information about a patient's firearm into a medical record unless it relates to the patient's immediate medical care or safety.

That language was added by Republican Sen. Brian Nieves, of Washington. He says the bill would prevent inappropriate questions about firearm ownership.

But Republican Sen. Rob Schaaf, a physician from St. Joseph, said there shouldn't be limits on what doctors can insert in medical records.