Missouri AG: St. Louis Mayor’s Gun Ban Unconstitutional

Missouri Attorney General ⁢Protects Second Amendment Rights

Missouri’s Attorney General, Andrew ⁢Bailey, is taking a stand to protect Second Amendment rights in his state. He recently addressed the mayor of St. Louis, Tishaura Jones, regarding her proposed ordinance to ban certain types​ of firearms. Bailey firmly believes that this ordinance violates‍ both ⁤the Missouri and U.S. constitutions.

“That [ordinance] runs afoul of‍ the‍ Missouri ⁣Constitution, and the state is obligated to protect​ that right,” Attorney General Andrew Bailey told The Epoch Times. “That’s why I’m putting the ⁢marker⁤ down.”

In⁢ a​ letter sent to Mayor Jones on August 22, Bailey expressed his⁢ concerns ‌about her plans to “prohibit military-grade weapons on our streets” and “prohibit ‍insurrectionists and those convicted of hate crimes from having guns.”

“Your proposed measure ⁢would violate the constitutional right of ​Missourians to⁣ keep and bear arms,” Bailey wrote in the letter.

Mayor Jones’s office did ⁣not respond to requests for comment.

According to an ⁤online statement, Mayor Jones met⁣ with St. Louis Police Chief Robert⁤ J. Tracy, Office of Violence Prevention Director Wil Pinkney, and five ⁢of St. Louis’s​ 14 aldermen​ to discuss ​”gun violence survivors⁢ and advocates” on ​the same day Bailey sent his letter.

“In⁢ the coming ‍days, in partnership with the Mayor’s Office, aldermen are ⁣ready to introduce commonsense gun safety legislation. We​ come together around a shared vision: a safer, stronger St. Louis, ready to stand up for our ‌values. We know Missourians are demanding state-level action to pass⁤ measures ⁢like red-flag ​laws and background checks, but we are​ ready‌ to try every tool available to us at the local level to‍ protect families from gun​ violence,” the statement quotes‌ Mayor Jones‌ as saying.

Her plan includes‍ the‌ prohibition of “military-grade weapons,” although the statement does not provide a specific definition. It also aims to prevent ⁤the transfer or sale of ⁢guns to minors, address privately made firearms (“ghost guns”), prohibit‌ insurrectionists and those convicted⁤ of hate crimes from possessing guns, and​ prepare for the passage of ⁤Blair’s Law.

Blair’s ‌Law is legislation that establishes ⁤charges and penalties for reckless⁣ discharge of a ‍firearm. It ‍was named ​in ​honor of 11-year-old Blair Shanahan Lane, who tragically lost his life to a stray bullet during Independence Day celebrations in ⁢2011.

Last July, Missouri Governor⁣ Mike Parson vetoed legislation‍ containing Blair’s Law due⁣ to ⁤additional ‍provisions, including language that could ​potentially reduce​ penalties for possessing ⁢child pornography.

Bailey Questions Mayor Jones’s Motives

Attorney General Bailey expressed skepticism regarding Mayor Jones’s ⁢motives for the proposed weapons ban. He believes that​ there are already existing⁣ tools ⁣at the local ⁢level⁣ that⁢ the mayor should⁣ utilize before creating ⁣new ⁤ones.

“Why⁣ doesn’t she go after the criminals instead of the guns? There are ‌laws on ⁣the books‌ now to deal with violent crime in​ St. Louis,” Bailey ⁣stated.

According to Bailey, Missouri law‍ only allows​ cities to regulate the concealed carry of ⁤firearms. All ⁢other regulations fall under the jurisdiction of the state.

“The‌ people’s elected representatives have already spoken on this issue by preempting local authority in state statute.⁣ To implement⁢ your‌ plan would be to ⁣violate Missouri law,” Bailey emphasized.

Attorney General ‌Bailey highlighted that the Missouri Constitution requires any proposed law restricting the right to keep ‍and bear arms to​ undergo “strict scrutiny” to ensure that it is narrowly focused and necessary.