Federal Appeals Court Invalidates Missouri's Second Amendment Law

A federal appeals court has ruled Missouri's Second Amendment Preservation Act unconstitutional. The law, which attempted to nullify several federal gun regulations, was blocked after the U.S. Department of Justice sued the state. The court's decision is a victory for the Biden administration.

A federal appeals court delivered a significant victory to the Biden administration on Monday by ruling against a Missouri law that declared several federal gun regulations invalid. The law was deemed unconstitutional.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis upheld a lower court's decision, preventing Missouri from enforcing the 2021 Second Amendment Preservation Act. The law, endorsed by Republican Governor Mike Parson, aimed to invalidate certain federal gun laws, posing fines on state and local officials for enforcement.

The Justice Department sued in 2022, arguing the law hindered federal law enforcement. Missouri defended the law, citing states' rights, but the court found it lacked the authority to invalidate federal laws. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey expressed intent to keep fighting for Second Amendment rights.

(With inputs from agencies.)