GOP Gun Nut, Missouri Lawmakers Vote to Punish Agents Who Enforce Federal Gun Laws with Prison Time and Steep Fines
by Liam O'Connor
A
state senate committee in Missouri has voted in favor of a bill that
would make it a criminal offense for federal officials to enforce
federal regulations of firearms. Under the provision, federal officers
could face a fine of $1,000 and up to one year in prison.
A
near-identical bill was vetoed last year by the Democratic governor of
the state Jay Nixon. The GOP-dominated state senate was just one vote
short of enough for an override of that veto. Like the previous bill,
this is one of the most extreme pieces of pro-gun legislation under
consideration in the country. Not only would it mandate prosecution of
those enforcing federal rules on gun-control, but it would also lower
the minimum age for a concealed weapons permit from 21 to 19, as well as
allowing for the arming of public school personnel.
However
even if the bill eventually becomes law, it will no doubt be swiftly
struck down as unconstitutional. The Supremacy Clause of the US
Constitution is admirably clear on this issue:
[box
type="shadow"]"This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States
which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or
which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be
the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be
bound thereby, anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the
contrary notwithstanding."[/box]
Americans Against the Tea Party has reported on similar issues proposed in Republican-dominated states, such as recently in Tennessee.
However, in every single one of these cases, the bills have either
failed to make it onto the statute book, or have been thrown out after
legal challenges.
Not
only is this bill dangerous and wildly irresponsible, it is also an
unconscionable waste of the taxpayer's money, and its authors know this.
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