Four dozen Republican state lawmakers -- including nine seeking higher office -- want U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt to reverse his position and oppose the U.S. Senate gun control deal he helped negotiate.
Blunt was part of a bipartisan group of 20 senators who crafted a bill that would give incentives to states to enact "red flag laws," which allow the courts or law enforcement to temporarily remove a firearm from an individual who is distressed and poses a harm to either themselves or someone else.
Blunt issued a news release after the deal was negotiated to promote the mental health provisions he championed along with Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, that would fund community mental health and addiction treatment centers.
The red flag law provisions have drawn attacks from gun rights groups and were the target of the letter from state Rep. Tony Lovasco, R-O'Fallon and signed by 43 additional Missouri House members, including Mid-Missouri state Reps. Travis Fitzwater, Sara Walsh and Dave Griffith, and four members of the state Senate.
In the letter, they noted most versions of red flag laws authorize courts to seize guns from someone considered dangerous without requiring a criminal conviction and, in many cases, without the targeted person in court.
"The proposal in question seeks to allow Congress to deflect responsibility for enacting such horrid laws by essentially punting to the states," the letter states. "Knowing that forcing such immoral and unconstitutional provisions nationwide would not garner enough votes to overcome a filibuster, Senator (Chris) Murphy instead proposes to bribe states with their own tax money to do his dirty work for him."
The proposal being drafted into a bill has the backing of President Joe Biden and, on Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said he was "comfortable" with the framework as announced.
Because it needs to overcome an expected filibuster, the bill will need the votes of at least 10 Republicans.
"If the legislation ends up reflecting what the framework indicates, I'll be supportive," McConnell said.
At the news conference with McConnell, Blunt said the bill should be ready for debate by next week. He said he supports a provision of the bill allowing access to juvenile records for background checks if someone under 21 wants to purchase an assault weapon.
"The person in Uvalde, who on his 18th birthday underwent a background check to buy a gun, and since you have no earlier records from 18 available, it's like that person was born that day," Blunt said.
Blunt may believe Missouri lawmakers will not enact a red flag law, the letter states. But other states will, the letter states, warning it is a first step.
"If this measure comes to fruition, a vote for it will directly enable the spread of confiscation laws throughout the country, and further normalize support for the eventual disarmament of this nation," the letter states.
Of the 44 House members who signed the letter, six are seeking seats in the Missouri Senate in Republican primaries this year and one, state Rep. David Gregory, R-St. Louis County, is running for state auditor. Seven are not running for another term and 30 are seeking re-election.
Two of the four state senators who signed -- Mike Moon, of Ash Grove, and Eric Burlison, of Springfield, -- are running in the 7th Congressional District primary.
Blunt is not seeking re-election this year and 21 Republicans have filed for the GOP nomination to replace him. Three of the candidates leading in the polls -- former Gov. Eric Greitens, Attorney General Eric Schmitt, U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, of Harrisonville -- have said they are opposed to the Senate proposal, the Kansas City Star reported.
The Missouri Independent, www.missouriindependent.com, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization covering state government and its impact on Missourians.