Updated at 5:30 p.m. June 21, with comments from Gov. Mike Parson.
A new law that seeks to nullify federal gun laws in Missouri is facing its first legal challenge.
St. Louis and St. Louis County jointly filed suit Monday asking a judge in Cole County to find the Second Amendment Preservation Act unconstitutional.
鈥淭his harmful and unconstitutional law takes away tools our communities need to prevent gun violence. I鈥檓 proud to partner with St. Louis County in this effort to protect our region and stop this law,鈥� Mayor Tishaura Jones said in a statement.
County Executive Sam Page called the new law a sign that says 鈥渃ome commit gun violence here.鈥�
鈥淲e can鈥檛 expect people to stay in St. Louis or to move their businesses here if we don鈥檛 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,鈥� Page said.
SAPA, the last day of the legislative session and last week, prohibits local police from enforcing federal gun laws. Under it, citizens gain the right to sue cities whose law enforcement officers try to enforce federal gun restrictions, leading to fines that could reach hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The says SAPA violates the rights of St. Louis and St. Louis County to set their own powers. It also claims the law violates the U.S. Constitution鈥檚 Supremacy Clause.
鈥淭he effect of HB 85 on Plaintiffs and operation of [the city and county鈥檚] law enforcement departments and staff are innumerable, and almost assuredly disastrous,鈥� attorneys for the city and county wrote, citing participation in federal task forces and the National Integrated Ballistic Network.
The U.S. Department of Justice has already warned Parson that it believes SAPA is unconstitutional.
The law has led to a few changes in law enforcement. Over the weekend, Phillip Dupuis, the police chief in O鈥橣allon, Missouri, , citing the law's 鈥減oor wording鈥� and 鈥渦nintended consequences.鈥� And employees of the attorney general鈥檚 office who had been detached as federal prosecutors to handle gun cases in an effort known as 鈥淪afer Streets鈥� have withdrawn from the cases.
Parson said in a written statement that he would "reject any attempt by the federal government to circumvent the fundamental right Missourians have to keep and bear arms to protect themselves and their property."
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