February 20, 2024

Today, following the filing of multiple House Joint Resolutions by members of the Missouri House Democratic Caucus in response to the tragic shooting that took place at the celebration of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory, Missouri Democratic Party Chairman Russ Carnahan and Missouri State House Representative Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, released the following statement: 

“For too long we have allowed our communities to be held hostage by the argument that there is nothing that can be done to address the senseless gun violence that continues to ravage communities across the country and last week devastated our Kansas City Community. These Joint Resolutions filed by many of our Democratic Statehouse members would give Missouri voters the opportunity to put the power of addressing this urgent issue into the hands of local leaders and law enforcement in the communities they serve, not politicians in Jefferson City.

“Missouri Republicans have worked hard to take more and more power away from our local communities, but Missourians across the political spectrum know that these decisions are best left to local experts who know their communities and keep them safe every day. These resolutions are a good first step in putting the power back into the hands of those local leaders and first responders to allow them to respect the rights of their constituents to own firearms and implement common-sense gun safety measures.” Carnahan finished. 

“As a mom, a teacher, and now a survivor of a mass shooting, I am angry that we have not addressed the senseless gun violence that is impacting our communities and scarring our children. These resolutions are meant to send a message to dysfunctional politicians holding us hostage in a violent hellscape that something must be done. They rightfully put the power of protecting our communities back into the hands of local leaders and law enforcement who wake up every day ready to keep us safe,” said Nurrenbern.

Background: 

In 2021, the Missouri General Assembly passed the Second Amendment Preservation Act, which penalized local law enforcement $50,000 per infraction if they were found to be working with federal agencies like the ATF and the FBI on gun-related crimes. In March 2023, a federal judge overturned the Second Amendment Preservation Act, ruling that it “exposes citizens to greater harm.” Every Republican member present supported the measure signed by Governor Parson. 

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Media Contact: 

Chelsea Rodriguez, Communications Director

press@missouridems.org