Editorial

Praise to local legislators for hearing concerns about new law

Friday, August 13, 2021

We want to thank Rep. Hardy Billington, Rep. Darrell Atchison and Sen. Jason Bean for saying this week they will work with law enforcement to correct issues with the Second Amendment Preservation Act.

This new law was created to preserve Second Amendment rights, but has had consequences that were not intended, as the Butler County sheriff and prosecuting attorney and Poplar Bluff police chief pointed out in a recent Daily American Republic article.

It led to Ripley and Butler County law enforcement being named in a law suit because they cooperated with federal officials in prosecuting federal gun charges.

And we’re not the only Missouri county facing similar problems because of the new law.

The law bars Missouri officials from enforcing many federal gun laws which don’t have a similar state law, including some that prevent possession of firearms by some domestic violence offenders and others covering weapons registration and tracking.

Associated Press news organizations have reported the Missouri State Highway Patrol has pulled some personnel from partnerships with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives as a result. Law enforcement in some areas of St. Louis are concerned about future joint investigations with the FBI.

Chief Danny Whiteley cited the new law as a reason why his officers couldn’t pursue additional federal charges against two people arrested July 31 on drug and weapons charges following a police chase.

“It is a law that had a good intent, but has a very negative result on law enforcement,” Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs said. “In an attempt to protect the gun rights of law-abiding citizens, it has done the opposite and this law will benefit violent criminals more than anyone.”

Butler County Prosecutor Kacey Proctor also shared, “The law has the potential to take vital funds away from already struggling law enforcement agencies and place it in the hands of dangerous criminals.

“I have faith that our leaders in Jefferson City will take an honest look at how this law is negatively impacting law enforcement officers and make changes to it that will enable them to take dangerous criminals off the street.”

We want to thank Billington, Atchison and Bean for proving the prosecutor right and taking the concerns of local law enforcement seriously.

— Daily American Republic

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