Missouri's "Make Murder Legal Act" revived

A southwest Missouri lawmaker is again pushing for passage of a law that prosecutors across the state have condemned as a “get out of jail free” card for murderers.

In a Republican-controlled state that already has permissive gun laws, the legislation introduced by Rep. Ben Baker, R-Neosho, would establish a presumption that a defendant acted reasonably in self-defense when they use deadly force against another person.

  

I can't help but wonder who Rep. Baker wants to kill.

“I just think it’s important when it comes to our Second Amendment rights,” Baker said. “I think the issue is valid.”

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Baker’s proposal is identical to a bill that faced withering criticism in the Senate last year.

“The language is the same. There are no further changes to the bill. I suspect that there will be,” Baker said.

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The Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, in a statement issued in May, slammed the legislation, saying it would prohibit police from detaining any murderer who shouted “self-defense” and would grant violent killers absolute immunity for their crimes.

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Missouri already has one of the nation’s most expansive ‘stand your ground’ laws,” the statement noted.

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One county prosecutor called the Senate bill, which was sponsored by former Sen. Eric Burlison, R-Battlefield, the “Make Murder Legal Act.”

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At the same time, Democrats in the minority are working to combat gun violence following a deadly shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High in St. Louis, which claimed the lives of Alexzandria Bell, a 15-year-old student, and Jean Kuczka, a lifelong educator. Seven others were injured in the October rampage that also affected Collegiate School of Medicine and Bioscience.

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Democrats representing the state’s urban areas have introduced a slew of legislation designed to prevent dangerous people that pose a threat to themselves and others from easily accessing firearms.

Williams, for example, is sponsoring a bill that would attempt to strengthen the state’s concealed weapons permitting law, which has been weakened through the passage of Republican-backed firearms laws.

Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, wants to impose a so-called “red flag” law that may have stopped the fatal school shooting.

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Merideth also wants to raise the age necessary to legally purchase a firearm to 21 years old. It is now set at 19.

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Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, has signaled that he doesn’t favor tougher gun laws.

“You can pass all the laws you want for that, but if they aren’t abiding by the law, it’s not going to make any difference,” Parson told KOLR-TV after the school shooting.

Parson may be one of the country's dumbest governors. If you have the laws, and you prosecute those who violate them, that will make a difference.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.