Missouri Senate sets aside House Bill 1175 to revive Second Amendment Preservation Act

Senator Rick Bratton of Harrisonville told colleagues Tuesday that House Bill 1175 would reestablish the Second Amendment Preservation Act, a measure the Senate debated for several hours earlier in the session.

The bill was set aside for further discussion, Bratton said. Supporters say the measure would restore a state law aimed at limiting enforcement of some federal firearms rules within Missouri; opponents and at least one senator raised constitutional concerns about language in the earlier version of the law.

Senator Steven Roberts of St. Louis told the chamber he objected to a provision in the original law that “basically said our local law enforcement agencies were prevented from enacting federal laws,” and said that provision created an issue with the confrontation clause. The original version of the law was struck down by a judge in 2021, according to remarks during the discussion.

No vote or final action on House Bill 1175 was recorded in the transcript excerpt. The measure was described as being "set aside for further discussion," and senators did not specify a date for further consideration.

Background: Senate remarks identified the measure as a reestablishment of a 2021 law that had been invalidated by a court. The transcript did not specify the court name, the exact judge’s ruling, or the full text of the challenged provision; those items were described only in summary during debate.

The chamber continued work on other business after setting the bill aside; next steps for House Bill 1175 were not given in the excerpt.