Guns

The U.S. Justice Department has sued Missouri over its "Second Amendment Preservation Act," which bars local law officials from enforcing federal gun policy and could fine them for doing so.

Federal officials are responding to Tuesday’s mass shooting at an elementary school in Texas, the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history. Many Democrats have called for more restrictions on gun access. While Republican lawmakers have condemned the shooting, critics have quick to point out the tight relationships these lawmakers have held with the NRA.

Administrators for St. Louis Public Schools and charter schools plan to distribute gun locks to ensure that gun owners keep their weapons out of students’ hands.

The suit comes as the Missouri Supreme Court considers a challenge to Missouri’s Second Amendment Preservation Act from St. Louis, St. Louis County and Jackson County.

Missouri's "Second Amendment Preservation Act," passed in 2021, allows anyone to sue a local police department if they believe their rights to firearms have been infringed. The result is local, state and federal agencies are reluctant to work with one another for fear of potential lawsuits.

Inside Missouri's growing community of Black gun owners, even enthusiasts are alarmed about how quickly suicide rates are rising. But the message of crisis prevention isn't always a popular one.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey made national headlines in June 2020 when they confronted a group of mostly Black protesters who entered their gated community en route to demonstrate in front of the nearby home of a former St. Louis mayor.

St. Louis and St. Louis County have asked a court to overturn the Missouri bill that would fine law enforcement agencies and officers who work with federal agencies to enforce gun regulations.

Republican lawmakers who championed the law claimed they were concerned the Biden administration would tighten gun restrictions.

The measure creates optional fingerprints for renewals in Illinois and beefs up revocation enforcement.