ST. LOUIS – Leaders in St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis have filed a lawsuit against the state of Missouri for its newly passed law that bans police from enforcing federal gun rules.
Mayor Tishaura Jones and County Executive Sam Page announced Monday that their lawsuit hopes to have the new law declared unconstitutional under the federal and state constitutions. The suit was filed in Cole County Circuit Court Monday.
“2020 was the deadliest year of gun violence in our state’s history, and now the Missouri legislature is throwing up barriers to stop police from doing their most important job —preventing and solving violent crime,” Jones said. “This harmful and unconstitutional law takes away tools our communities need to prevent gun violence. I’m proud to partner with St. Louis County in this effort to protect our region and stop this law.”
“This new law is like the state holding out a sign that says ‘Come Commit Gun Violence Here,’” Page said. “We can’t expect people to stay in St. Louis or to move their businesses here if we don’t do everything we can to reduce gun violence in the region, but this new law sends the opposite message to our residents and business community.”
Last week, The US Justice Department wrote a letter to Missouri saying the newly passed law went too far and that federal law trumps state law. Gov. Mike Parson and Attorney General Eric Schmitt wrote back with their plans to continue to enforce the new law declaring any federal laws, executive orders or other federal regulations to track or take away firearms from law-abiding citizens as void.
You can read the full lawsuit, here:
Earlier this month, Gov. Parson signed a bill that will penalize local police departments if their officers enforce federal gun laws. The fine would be up to $50,000 per violating officer.
Three other states have passed similar laws.