Moms Demand Action Furious as Missouri State Legislature Plans Militia Law Loophole to Keep Citizens Armed Despite Any Federal Law

Tuesday the Missouri Senate held a hearing on SB 528 which proposes the formation of a State Militia under the control of the governor. The bill takes the guns of those who enlist and removes them from federal jurisdiction placing them under the jurisdiction of the state in an effort to protect gun owners from what may be coming down the pipeline from the federal government. State Senator Bill White introduced the bill at the end of February. White took to Facebook to elaborate on the purpose of the bill.

“I filed Senate Bill 528 as a novel way to defend our Second Amendment. By forming the Missouri Minutemen of the State, we can remove federal jurisdiction over firearms for any citizen who volunteers to join. It has the added benefit of giving Missourians the ability to protect their families and serve in times of catastrophic crisis.”

Jessica Hart of KRCG tweeted a brief summary of the bill and a short clip of the hearing. “The Missouri Senate General Laws Committee is hearing a bill that would create a volunteer militia under direct command of the governor. @KRCG13 . Sen. Bill White, the bill sponsor, said the creation of this group would provide a pool of man power for a civilization threatening event that is available for the government to be able to utilize that is not a military force. @KRCG13“

The Missouri Senate General Laws Committee is hearing a bill that would create a volunteer militia under direct command of the governor. @KRCG13 pic.twitter.com/JmQAflOJGe

— Jessica Hart KRCG (@JessicaHartTV) March 30, 2021

@KRCG13 pic.twitter.com/zZ3xy4Nuc8

— Jessica Hart KRCG (@JessicaHartTV) March 30, 2021

The Missourian reported, “This year could see gun owners in Missouri legally assembling into a state-sanctioned militia.

The bill creating the Missouri minutemen, Senate Bill 528, was one of several bills heard this week in the Senate General Laws Committee aimed at protecting and expanding gun rights in the state. Some of these bills, and others throughout the session, speak to state lawmakers’ growing concern that a more liberal federal administration will be able to start enacting more gun control measures.

Though a novel approach, the minutemen bill would effectively put firearms into state custody, with the intention of removing them from federal jurisdiction.”

Self-proclaimed radical liberal and Moms Demand Action volunteer LauraB tweeted out a call to action to try to kill the bills up for public hearing on Tuesday.

“Hey Missouri! Get ready for Tuesday 3/30. The Senate General Laws Committee will have a public hearing for #HB85 (federal nullification), #HB52 (guns on public transportation) and #SB528 (creates an armed volunteer militia). The GOP is trying to kill us. @MomsDemand #MoLeg 2/ You can find members of the Senate General Laws Committee here. Please call them and demand that they vote no on this dangerous legislation. https://bit.ly/3smontG 3/MO has the 5th highest rate of gun deaths in the nation. Nullifying federal gun laws, allowing hidden guns on public transportation, and creating a volunteer militia that requires no safety training will send Missouri straight to number 1 in this department. #MoLeg@MomsDemand“

1/ Hey Missouri! Get ready for Tuesday 3/30. The Senate General Laws Committee will have a public hearing for #HB85 (federal nullification), #HB52 (guns on public transportation) and #SB528 (creates an armed volunteer militia). The GOP is trying to kill us. @MomsDemand #MoLeg

— LauraB (@LauraAnnSTL) March 25, 2021

3/MO has the 5th highest rate of gun deaths in the nation. Nullifying federal gun laws, allowing hidden guns on public transportation, and creating a volunteer militia that requires no safety training will send Missouri straight to number 1 in this department. #MoLeg @MomsDemand

— LauraB (@LauraAnnSTL) March 25, 2021

KRCG reported that some sheriffs do agree with the legislation but only provided statements from the two who did not. Maries County Sheriff Chris Heitman issued a statement according to KRCG, “There’s already a statute that’s been established since 1909 that sheriffs or law enforcement can call on citizens in an emergency situation to deputize them in their time of need, but the sheriff is held liable for the actions of those citizens, so in this case, it’s kind of ironic that the state would not be held liable for the actions of the people that they deputize.”

Many anticipate more action from conservative legislatures which states will follow suit next, Idaho, South Dakota, Texas, South Carolina or Florida? With the the change in the control of the federal government many anticipate a strong push for gun control legislation many states may try to figure out how to circumvent this.