The last few years have seen quite the conversation where guns are concerned.

On television, viewers have been told AR-15’s are automatic weapons. And among some pundits, “semi-automatic” has been used as if to designate a very specialized kind of gun, rather than virtually every gun.

Here’s a highly-recommended tutorial courtesy of Virginia Democratic Delegate Mark Levine:

Additionally, as you recall, Beto O’Rourke ran on a platform of confiscating America’s best–selling hunting rifle.

Beto O'Rourke on gun control: 'Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15' https://t.co/84IG9MlDKV pic.twitter.com/WrrkTsfIR7

— TheWreckingBall (@TheWreckingBal5) September 10, 2020

And a lot of people seemed to be on board.

Of course, not all were:

We're having an AR-15 BETO sale.
Use discount code BETO at checkout to save 8% on select AR-15's to spite 8-Ball Beto.

Use this link:https://t.co/SNHWSafmEH pic.twitter.com/lu7S0LYKLw

— Check 6 Arms, LLC (@Check6Arms) September 14, 2019

Nevertheless, in light of America’s new Democrat president, where are we now?

Earlier this month, RedState’s Jennifer Oliver O’Connell gave her take.

“The states,” she wrote, “must use all measures to hold the line on 2A.”

She also noted, “States are taking incremental and large measures to build a firewall against federal encroachment under the guise of ‘partnership’ with gun control groups…”

Jennifer covered a case in Missouri involving a public university staffer’s firearm: Which one triumphantly applied — a rule governing guns on campus, or a law allowing state employees to keep firepower on state property?

Well, now there’s more gun goings-on in Missouri.

As reported by The Daily Wire, a county in the Show-Me State passed an ordinance this month that would prevent any federal action to infringe on citizens’ rights.

From The Second Amendment Preservation Act of Newton County:

All federal acts, laws, orders, rules and regulations passed by the Federal government and specifically any Presidential Administration whether past, present or future, which infringe on the people’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States and Article 1, Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution shall be invalid in the county, shall not be recognized by this county, and specifically rejected by this county, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this county.

Now that’s sayin’ somethin’.

The act gives examples:

Such acts, laws, orders, rules and regulations include but are not limited to any tax levy, fee, or stamp imposed on firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition not common to all other goods and services…any registration or tracking of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition…any act ordering the confiscation of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition…and finally, any act, whether past, present or future passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by the Federal Government and specifically any Presidential Administration which infringes on the people’s right to keep and bear arms in Newton County, Missouri shall be considered null and void by the county and not recognized by this county.

So who’s gonna make sure it’s enforced?

That’d be the Sheriff:

Any and all federal agents trying to enforce the regulations listed in Section (1) shall be subject to arrest by the Sheriff’s department.

Missouri’s own constitution lays out the liberty of bearing arms in no uncertain terms:

That the right of every citizen to keep and bear arms, ammunition, and accessories typical to the normal function of such arms, in defense of his home, person, family and property, or when lawfully summoned in aid of the civil power, shall not be questioned. The rights guaranteed by this section shall be unalienable. Any restriction on these rights shall be subject to strict scrutiny and the state of Missouri shall be obligated to uphold these rights and shall under no circumstances decline to protect against their infringement.

Given the Democrats’ evolved position toward firearms, I’d bet we’re going to see other places following Newton’s lead.

And personally, I don’t think any of this is heartening. It indicates the level of polarization we’re likely to face in the future. Many have said two Americas are forming, and that can’t be helpful in a place called the United States.

But this is where we are, and Missouri’s on the cutting edge. Or…the trigger.

And surely, some across the aisle will be.

-ALEX

See more pieces from me:

Punch a Nazi: A Holocaust Guard is Caught in Tennessee, Now He’ll Face the Country of His Crimes

College Offers Free Tuition – for Black and American Indian Students

Tennessee Librarian Fired for Burning City-Owned Books by Conservative Authors – on Instagram

Find all my RedState work here.

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