Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Thursday he would sign a bill that will ban state police from enforcing federal gun laws, according to a local report.
The “Second Amendment Preservation Act” would nullify federal gun laws relating to gun registration and the tracking of guns by domestic violence offenders, according to the Kansas City Star. Only felons and fugitives are prohibited from owning a gun in Missouri, according to the report.
“The Governor is aware of the legal implications of this bill, but also that, now more than ever, we must define a limited role for federal government in order to protect citizen’s rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution,” Parson’s spokeswoman Kelli Jones said in a statement, according to the Kansas City Star.
“This is about empowering people to protect themselves and acknowledging the federalist constitutional structure of our government,” Jones added.
“We’re just simply saying we’re not going to lift a finger to enforce their rules,” Republican State Sen. Eric Burlison said in May, according to the Kansas City Star. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade called the legislation “radical, dangerous and obviously [an] unconstitutional attempt to declare that Missouri will refuse to follow federal gun laws.”
#INBOX | 24 hours before @GovParsonMO is set to sign the Second Amendment Preservation Act, House Minority Leader @crystal_quade releases a statement saying the legislation “rewards criminals, punishes police.” #moleg #mogov pic.twitter.com/bWuHUQ3XMa
— Emily Manley (@EmilyManleyTV) June 11, 2021
Local police will be banned from helping federal agents enforce laws that are deemed “invalid” and prohibit the hiring of former federal agents who enforced the laws, according to the report. Only federal laws that also exist in Missouri would be excused.
Local police departments can be sued for up to $50,000 if they enforce one of the federal laws, according to the Kansas City Star. Federal agents can still enforce the laws, however, according to the report. (RELATED: DeSantis Signs Bill That Bans Local Gun Regulations)
Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott said he supported the legislation but worries his officers could be left in a tough situation while investigating crimes.
Parson is expected to sign the bill Saturday.