Reject State Overrides of Federal Gun Control Laws

I urge you to strongly oppose SB858 (Brattin), SB955 (Bean), HB3002 (Wolfin), SB952 (Moon), HB2660 (Costlow), SB1099 (Brattin), SB1488 (Gregory), and any similar bills, which seek to reenact portions of the Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA) which was previously ruled unconstitutional in federal court. These bills are not about preserving liberty; they are a dangerous and reckless act of nullification that prioritizes unfettered access to firearms over the safety and lives of Missourians. These bills deliberately sabotage crucial federal efforts to implement commonsense regulations—like universal background checks, red flag laws, and restrictions on weapons of war—that the majority of Americans support. They forbid local and state law enforcement from cooperating with federal authorities, creating sanctuaries not for people, but for illegal guns and those who would misuse them. This is a direct attack on the principle of federal law supremacy, a cornerstone of our union that prevents a chaotic patchwork of conflicting state laws. The bills' financial penalties against police departments who simply work to keep us safe are absurd and will cripple essential law enforcement functions. In addition, the vague definition of a "law-abiding citizen" is a loophole that could protect individuals who pose a demonstrable threat, undermining efforts to disarm domestic abusers and violent extremists. Also, their core definition of who is afforded these radical "protections" is revealing and exclusionary. By defining a "law-abiding citizen" as explicitly excluding anyone "not legally present" in the U.S. or Missouri, the bills weaponize the Second Amendment to advance a nativist agenda. They create a two-tiered system where fundamental rights are contingent on immigration status, which is a profound betrayal of the concept of inalienable rights and will inevitably lead to increased racial profiling and distrust in our communities. At a time when gun violence is a national crisis, Missouri’s legislature is choosing to dismantle tools for prevention. We must reject this ideological extremism and demand policies that protect our families, our schools, and our communities from the scourge of gun violence.