St. Louis City and County sue to block state's new federal gun laws

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SAINT LOUIS, MO — On Monday, June 21, 2021 St. Louis City together with St. Louis County filed a joint lawsuit to block a new law that makes Missouri a sanctuary state for gun violence. The new law will block local law enforcement from referring to federal gun laws.

The suit was filed in Cole County Circuit Court, asking the court to announce the new law unconstitutional under the federal and state constitutions. Up until today, some of Missouri's gun regulation is the weakest law in the country. Missouri also ranked top of the highest rates of gun violence deaths per capita in the country.

The new law has already shown its effects at the federal, state and local levels, such as:

1. The United States Department of Justice has declared that the new law interrupts federal law enforcement unconstitutionally. It also threatens the local police departments' ability to access federal grants.
2. Prosecutors that assist federal drug, carjacking and gun cases in St. Louis are removed by the State of Missouri
3. Resignation of a police chief in the St. Louis region after Governor Parson signed the law. Governor Parson also said that the new law will “chill the legitimate peacekeeping duties of police.”

“2020 was the deadliest year of gun violence in our state’s history, and now the Missouri legislature is throwing up barriers to stop police from doing their most important job—preventing and solving violent crime,” said St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “This harmful and unconstitutional law takes away tools our communities need to prevent gun violence. I’m proud to partner with St. Louis County in this effort to protect our region and stop this law.”

“This new law is like the state holding out a sign that says ‘Come Commit Gun Violence Here,’” said St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page. “We can’t expect people to stay in St. Louis or to move their businesses here if we don’t 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.”

The St. Louis City and County are still seeking for unconstitutional provisions order. The City and County also hope the law could be canceled on constitutional grounds.

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