Newton County, Mo., enacted the Second Amendment Preservation Act on Feb. 3, allowing local law enforcement to arrest federal agents who attempt to enforce laws in the county that violate citizens’ rights to keep and bear arms, in addition to rendering such laws null and void.
The act requires “the courts and law enforcement agencies to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms,” adding that law enforcement agencies, county employees and political subdivisions will not have “authority to enforce or attempt to enforce any federal laws, orders or rules infringing on the right to keep and bear arms.”
Any federal agents who attempt to enforce federal regulations that violate the Second Amendment “shall be subject to arrest by the Newton County Missouri Sheriff’s Department,” according to the act.
“All federal acts, laws, orders, rules and regulations passed by the Federal Government and specifically any Presidential Administration whether past, present, or future, which infringe on the people’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article 1, Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution shall be invalid in this county, shall not be recognized in this county, and specifically rejected by this county, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this county,” the act reads.
Taxes, fees and stamps imposed on firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition, any registering or tracking of guns or gun-owners, and any act ordering the confiscation of guns, accessories or ammo from law-abiding citizens would fall under the county’s Second Amendment Preservation Act and be rejected.
Missouri lawmakers are considering similar legislation at the state level, including a statewide Second Amendment Preservation Act, which has already passed the Missouri House.
“We’ve been told numerous times that Joe Biden is in favor of making changes to the Second Amendment rights,” state Rep. Jered Taylor told KYTV last month. “With those concerns and concerns that we’ve had in the past with other presidents, we want to make sure that as Missourians we’re protecting that Second Amendment right.”
Taylor introduced House Bill 85 that seeks to remove limitations on where individuals with concealed carry permits are allowed to bring their firearms. Taylor said the decision to make a space gun-free should be left up to property owners rather than the government.
“It should be up to the private property owner what they allow on their private property,” Taylor said. “Any of the private property locations in statute I’m removing so casinos, bars, amusement parks, churches, if it’s a private school.”
Last week, President Biden pushed Congress to pass gun control legislation, issuing a statement that said, “I am calling on Congress to enact commonsense gun law reforms, including requiring background checks on all gun sales, banning assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and eliminating immunity for gun manufacturers who knowingly put weapons of war on our streets.”
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki also told reporters that the president has not ruled out using executive orders for gun control.
When asked if Biden still intended to use executive action on gun control, Psaki said, “The president has a range of actions at his disposal … he hasn’t ruled out either of those options.”
