On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court chose not to restore a Missouri statute preventing the implementation of federal firearms regulations within its jurisdiction.
Missouri’s appeal to reverse a federal judge’s decision, which nullified the 2021 Second Amendment Preservation Act, was turned down by the high court, as detailed in a Reuters article.
The legal challenge against Missouri was initiated by the Biden administration in 2022, seeking to nullify the statute. They implored the Supreme Court to keep the act inactive, citing its contravention of the “supremacy clause” of the U.S. Constitution, which affirms the precedence of federal law over state laws in conflict with it, as highlighted by the report.
The administration contended that the Missouri act not only disrupted federal firearms control measures but also compromised public security, leading to a cessation of support from state and local enforcement in upholding federal firearms laws.
Justice Clarence Thomas, however, expressed his dissent on Friday, showing his preference for reactivating the Missouri statute.
The act was initially struck down in March by U.S. District Judge Brian Wimes, who identified it as an infringement of the constitutional supremacy clause.
He asserted in his judgment that, despite its intention to safeguard residents, the Missouri act actually puts them at increased risk by hindering the federal government’s capacity to execute firearms controls legally established by Congress to ensure public safety.
Despite the high court’s decision, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey showed no signs of conceding.
In a message on a social media platform, he noted that the Supreme Court’s recent decision on the Second Amendment Preservation Act was strictly procedural and reaffirmed his commitment to defending the firearm rights of Missouri citizens, hinting at a continued legal battle in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Notably, the Supreme Court had broadened firearms rights through a 2022 verdict penned by Thomas. They are slated to deliberate over the initial case following this decision next month.
Furthermore, a federal statute designed to prevent individuals with domestic violence restraining orders from accessing firearms was annulled by an appellate court.
