THE EGGLESTON REPORT – 2nd AMENDMENT PRESERVATION
In 2013, the Missouri legislature passed the Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA), which would insure that the federal government could not use our Missouri police, sheriffs, and highway patrol to enforce federal firearm restrictions unless they were also enacted in Missouri law. At that time, Gov. Jay Nixon (D) vetoed the bill. To override his veto, the House needed 109 votes and the Senate needed 23. In the override vote, the House got the required 109, but the Senate got only 22, one vote shy of enacting SAPA into law.
This year, given that President Biden and members of his inner circle have publicly stated their aversion for guns and their willingness to pass laws, rules, taxes, and executive orders that would take firearms from their owners and severely restrict our second amendment rights, some members of the Missouri legislature re-filed SAPA. And this week, the House passed a SAPA bill (HB85) 103-43.
In HB85, Missouri law enforcement may not assist the federal government with gun confiscation without risking a civil lawsuit with a financial penalty, unless the confiscation is also legal under Missouri state law. In getting to know my district’s law enforcement officers, I believe them to be strong supporters of the 2nd Amendment. If they get pressured by the federal government to do their bidding, our officers can point to Missouri’s SAPA law and say they are not allowed to do so. At that point, if the feds want to confiscate citizens’ guns, they would have to send in federal officers (FBI, secret service, etc.) to do that work.
HB85 now moves to the Senate for consideration there. The Senate would need to pass it and the governor would need to sign it for SAPA to become the law of our state.
Until next time, health, happiness and prosperity to you and your family
