JEFFERSON CITY - Missourians would be able to sue federal agents for infringing on their Second Amendment rights in a measure passed by the House, Thursday April 3.

Both the Senate and House have now passed bills that seek to nullify federal gun laws. The Senate version of the measure includes the misdemeanor penalty for federal employees who enforce federal gun laws in Missouri.

Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a similar bill presented last year due to its infringement on the U.S. Constitution's Supremacy Clause, which gives precedence to federal laws over conflicting local government laws.  

Rep. Doug Funderburk, R-St. Peter's, the sponsor of the vetoed bill, made adjustments to the bill presented during this session. Unlike Funderburk's previous bill and the measure passed in the Senate this year, this bill would not permit prosecution of federal agents for enforcement of federal gun laws.

Funderburk proposed a clause that would put the measure in effect immediately after passage, which received some backlash. Representatives debated the necessity of this action before adopting it to the bill.

The bill also includes measures that would allow designated teachers to carry guns on school grounds, after completing the required training requirements set by the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission for school protection officers. The Senate bill included similar measures, but in addition required school districts to hold public hearings prior to allowing weapons in their schools. The bill passed in the House does not require public hearings.