Missouri Sheriff's Standing For Second Amendment Rights: For Immediate Release
March 16, 2020
Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA)

The Missouri Sheriffs' Association (MSA) and its member sheriffs are committed to the belief that, “a well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” It is because of this belief that we support the Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill No. 588 known as the “Second Amendment Preservation Act”. (SAPA)

On Wednesday March 11, 2020 MSA leadership met with the bill sponsor Senator Burlison and Representative Taylor in the Senator's office. During this meeting our leadership expressed commitment to protecting the 2nd Amendment. We voiced concern about the complexity of the current language in the bill and its potential for having a chilling effect on victims cooperating with law enforcement investigations aimed at getting armed and dangerous career criminals off the street. We suggested clean, straight forward language.

SB 588 was brought forward for a hearing in Senator Libla's committee on Thursday March 12th and the Senate Committee Substitute was passed. In its simplest form, the SCS for SB 588 is clear and concise. It reads in part that any federal actions which infringes on the people's right to keep and bear arms shall be invalid to this state, shall not be recognized by this state, shall be specifically rejected by this state, and shall not be enforced by this state. And that, “It shall be the duty of the courts and law enforcement agencies of this state to protect the rights of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms within the borders of this state.”

As the chief law enforcement official in the county duly elected by the citizens they serve, Missouri's sheriffs will fight to preserve the 2nd Amendment.

Questions may be directed to MSA President Sheriff David Parrish or Executive Director Kevin Merritt.