In a notable clash over the regulation of firearms, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has taken legal action against Jackson County, filing a lawsuit with a clear aim to invalidate an ordinance he criticizes as unconstitutional. According to the Missouri Attorney General's office, the ordinance in the spotlight allegedly infringes on the Second Amendment rights of young adults ages 18 to 20 by limiting their ability to purchase and possess certain firearms.
"Jackson County leaders don’t get to nullify the Constitution just because they disagree with it," Bailey stated in a pursuit of justice for a perceived overreach of local powers. The partnership with Gun Owners of America (GOA) signals a formidable pushback against local regulations that contradict state and federal laws. This action stems from the controversial Ordinance No. 5865, which, as detailed by the Attorney General, wrongful criminalizes specific age groups for firearm purchases and possession, including what the county terms as "semiautomatic assault rifles."
Fielding a united front in defense of state preemption laws, the suit builds on the foundation that Missouri legislation, specifically § 21.750, RSMo, leaves no room for local interpretation or autonomy in firearm regulations. This was apparently acknowledged by Jackson County's own legal counsel, even as the county legislature proceeded to override a veto from the Jackson County Executive to pass the ordinance. The explicit intention seemed to be to catalyze a legal challenge, and now a courtroom setting is poised to be the arena for this constitutional confrontation.
One of the faces of the fight, Leonard Wilson Jr., an 18-year-old GOA member, finds himself directly impacted by the Jackson County ordinance, unable to legally purchase a handgun from his uncle within the county lines—a transaction otherwise lawful under both state and federal law. Additionally, his ability to possess or transport a legally acquired AR-15 in Jackson County would put him at risk of arrest, thus fueling further the contention surrounding the disputed ordinance.
"When constitutional freedoms are threatened, my Office will take action,” Bailey affirmed, aligning his office’s stance with a broader commitment to uphold the rights of Missourians.
