Missouri's Attorney General Criticizes St. Louis Mayor's Gun Legislation Proposal

In an unfolding argument over the state's constitution, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has taken issue with St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones' proposed plans to implement new gun safety legislation.

According to Bailey, the proposal, which includes banning military-grade weapons on the city's streets and preventing those convicted of hate crimes from owning guns, violates citizens' constitutional right to bear arms.

The Mayor unveiled her 'common sense' plan on Tuesday, an endeavor she shares with the city’s Board of Alderman and one which, she believes, will shape a stronger, safer St. Louis.

Further stipulations of the legislation would aim to cease the transfer or sale of weapons to minors.

Shortly after the announcement, Bailey expressed his disagreement through a written communication to the Mayor, signaling that her efforts were infringing upon the rights of gun owners.

Bailey contends that the legislation would undermine the state constitution, which ensures that the right of citizens to bear arms is unalienable and subject to strict scrutiny.

The Attorney General concluded his letter with a stern warning, expressing his commitment to defend the nigh inviolable rights of each law-abiding citizen to bear arms.

His critique was not purely focused on constitutional discrepancies, but also targeted Jones' personal inconsistencies.

In a notable exchange, Bailey pointed to a text message conversation where Jones admitted that despite Chicago's rigid gun laws, the city grapples with rampant gun-related violence.

Underlining this paradox, Bailey argued that the Mayor's own skepticism raises questions over the proposed legislation's true efficacy in combatting crime.

Moreover, Bailey challenged Jones' tendency to attribute the city's rising crime rates to juveniles carrying firearms.

He accused the Mayor of failing to enact existing laws to address the issue, thereby undermining her own argument for the need for more restrictions.

Hopeful that Jones would reassess her stance, Bailey ended his letter with a fervent appeal to the Mayor to focus on criminals rather than guns in her battle against the city's crime.

When approached for comments regarding the letter from the Attorney General, Mayor Jones chose not to immediately respond.