Missouri Second Amendment Protection Act Concerns

CARTHAGE, MO.--- A proposed bill bans the publishing of the names of Missouri gun owners. The Missouri Press Association claims the "Second Amendment Protection Act" could threaten first amendment rights.

"You just don't mess with the first amendment of the constitution and the same amendment to the Missouri constitution. That old cliche about a slippery slope comes into play here, you just don't want to mess with that stuff," said John Hacker, Editor, Carthage Press.

That's why the MPA is asking the governor to veto the bill, something State Representative Charlie Davis thinks might not stand.

"If he does veto it, I do believe we have the numbers in the Missouri House and the Senate to override the veto. If there is something that is objectionable by the Missouri Press Association, then we can always come back and address that," said Charlie Davis, Missouri Representative, District 162.

"There are gonna need to be some fixes if the governor vetoes this bill and the legislators override it. They're going to need to come back and look at this thing and fix it," said Hacker.

The MPA says if signed, journalists could be at risk for misdemeanor charges when covering stories related to guns.

"It leaves reporters and news organizations possibly open, I can see where it could be open to civil lawsuits," said Hacker.

"I believe that you can report that guns were stolen but because that becomes a matter of public record, because a police report is generated at that point, it's just the CCW, the acknowledgment that someone does have guns in their house," said Davis.

Representative Davis says this is just a small part of the bill, and he supports any changes that would ensure first amendment rights.

"We'll absolutely look at it and see if that's something we could do or should do," said Davis.

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Missouri Second Amendment Protection Act Concerns