Missouri gun bill aims to nullify U.S. gun laws in the state

The Republican-controlled Missouri state legislature is expected next month to override a veto from the governor to pass the most far-reaching state law defying federal power -- known as a "nullification" -- as more states' rights proponents seek independence from federal authority.

The Missouri bill would nullify existing federal gun laws in the state, and make it a crime for federal authorities to enforce them. Further, any Missourian arrested under federal gun statutes would be allowed to sue the arresting officer.

Though the bill was vetoed by Democratic Governor Jay Nixon, the legislature is aiming to override his veto when they reconvene September 11.

In explanation of his veto, Nixon said federal supremacy over states is "is as logically sound as it is legally well established."

He also said the bill's provision making it a crime to publish the name of any gun owner would violate the First Amendment rights of newspapers, which have a longstanding custom of publishing "photos of proud young Missourians who harvest their first turkey or deer."

Overriding the governor’s veto would require 23 votes in the Senate and 109 in the House.

All but one of 109 House Republicans voted for the bill, joined by 11 Democrats. All 24 Senate Republicans supported it, joined by 2 Democrats.

Nullification was used in many liberal states' push for varying levels of marijuana legalization in defiance of federal narcotics laws. More recently, conservative states' rights advocates have increased their use of nullification since the passage of the Affordable Care Act.