House Urges Koster to Protect Missourian’s Religious Liberties

The Missouri House took action this week to encourage Attorney General Chris Koster to act in the best interest of Missourians by protecting their religious freedoms and conscience rights pursuant to the First Amendment.  I filed House Concurrent Resolution 35 in the wake of the errant US District Court’s decision that sections of Senate Bill 749 – overwhelmingly passed by the General Assembly after being vetoed by the Governor – was unconstitutional.

What was SB 749?

Senate Bill 749 provided employers the protections needed after the Democrat Congress and the President moved to violate the rights of millions of Americans in requiring them to provide insurance coverage for anti-life forms of “healthcare” for their employees regardless of their religious objections.  Missouri employers shoulder much burden already in providing benefits in the form of health and dental insurance coverage for those who work for their businesses or organizations.  They have made it clear, however, that being forced to cover religiously-objectionable services was a step too far.

What’s Next?

HCR 35 will need further action from the Senate, and I am hopeful they will concur and go on record in support of advancing the cause of religious liberty and freedom in our state.  Business owners should not be forced to provide products to their employees that they find morally objectionable or that violate their religious beliefs.

Right to Farm Vlog

Protecting our Fundamental Rights

The Second Amendment to the United State Constitution states:

“A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

 

You have probably heard a lot of talk in the past few months, especially this past week, about all the different tactics being proposed by Democrats in D.C., and now Missouri, that not only violate, but actually eradicate, our second amendment rights.

 

One of the most appalling attacks, HB 545, came late last week from Rep. Rory Ellinger (D-86). House Bill 545 is one of the most preposterous anti-gun bills filed this year as it would turn many law-abiding gun owners into felons. This infringement would ban the possession, sale, transfer or manufacturing of certain semi-automatic rifles and magazines that are capable of holding more than ten rounds. It contains no grandfather clause, which means if you are currently in possession of the semi-automatic rifles and magazines outlined in this bill, you will have 90 days from the effective date of this legislation to surrender, destroy or remove these currently lawful items from Missouri. If you fail to do so, you could be charged with a Class C felony.

 

Here in Missouri, the Republican led legislature is dedicated to upholding and protecting the fundamental rights of our citizens as outlined in the Constitution. Legislation that is clearly an infringement on our Constitution deserves nothing but a swift and public execution.

 

One piece of legislation being proposed in the House to protect the rights of Missourians is HB 170 called the "Firearm Protection Act", sponsored by Rep. Casey Guernsey (R-2). This legislation is designed to shield our citizens from President Obama's gun control mandates, executive orders and proposed legislation that would limit our fundamental Second Amendment rights. The Firearm Protection Act specifies that no official shall enforce a federal firearm law when the firearm is manufactured and remains in the state and that any new federal law banning or restricting ownership of a semi-automatic firearm is unenforceable. In addition the legislation would make any attempt to curb a Missourian’s Second Amendment rights a class D felony and directs the Attorney General of the State of Missouri to defend Missouri citizen's rights to keep and bear arms.

 

Missouri legislators believe it is their fundamental responsibility to defend and protect Missourians’ basic constitutional rights framed in both the US and Missouri Constitutions.