In a significant setback for Missouri’s pushback against federal gun regulations, a federal appeals court ruled that the state’s controversial Second Amendment Preservation Act is unconstitutional. The law, enacted in 2021 under Republican Governor Mike Parson, sought to nullify several federal gun laws within Missouri, declaring them “invalid” and imposing hefty fines on state and local officials who enforced them.
The U.S. Department of Justice challenged the law in 2022, arguing that it impeded the federal government’s ability to enforce gun regulations, leading many Missouri law enforcement agencies to cease cooperation with federal authorities. The Biden administration hailed the court’s decision as a victory for federal authority.
Chief U.S. Circuit Judge Steven Colloton, writing for the three-judge panel from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, underscored that while states may choose not to assist in enforcing federal law, they cannot invalidate it. The panel, which included appointees from both Republican and Democratic administrations, upheld the lower court’s decision barring the law’s enforcement.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey expressed disappointment, stating, “I will always fight for Missourians’ Second Amendment rights,” as his office reviews the ruling. The Justice Department has not commented on the outcome.
