Missouri Moves One Step Closer to Nullifying All Federal Gun Laws

The Takeaway

In May, Missouri’s state legislature passed a bill that would nullify all federal gun laws in the state.
The bill stakes out a strong position in defense of that state’s pro-gun policies. But the bill does not only does nullify federal gun laws within state boundaries, it also contains language stating that agents enforcing federal gun statues could be subjected to lawsuits for attempting to enforce federal gun laws within state borders.
Democratic Governor Jay Nixon vetoed the bill last month on constitutional grounds. But on Wednesday, the legislature convenes again–and it looks like there are enough votes to override that veto.
Representative Jay Barnes was the only Republican in Missouri’s legislature to vote against the bill in May. He joins The Takeaway to discuss why he voted against it and the consequences it could have if passed.

Are you with The World?

The story you just read is available to read for free because thousands of listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Every day, the reporters and producers at The World are hard at work bringing you human-centered news from across the globe. But we can’t do it without you: We need your support to ensure we can continue this work for another year.

When you make a gift of $10 or more a month, we’ll invite you to a virtual behind-the-scenes tour of our newsroom to thank you for being with The World.