As most people have heard, the Missouri Legislature is currently dealing with an issue involving the illegal scanning and sharing of citizens’ private information by the Department of Revenue. We became aware of the problem after a resident in Stoddard County filed a lawsuit claiming the department was collecting and storing private documents for residents seeking concealed carry gun permits.

It was a disturbing allegation, and one we moved quickly to address. The more we found out, though, the worse it looked. We now know DOR has quietly implemented a new policy in recent years that requires Missouri citizens who wish to get a driver’s license or conceal carry permit to present a copy of their birth certificate, Social Security Card and proof of residency.  If you are a married or divorced woman and the name on your current state ID differs from the name on your birth certificate, the state now requires a copy of your marriage certificate or divorce papers.  It will no longer accept your current license or ID, issued by the department, as valid ID to renew your license or ID.

All of this very private information is then stored in a central database and sent to a third party company, MorphoTrust, contracted by the state to make our new licenses and permits. Even worse, the department has also been collecting biometric data, facial feature measurements, from all license photos, which is part of a federal program the Missouri Legislature blocked from implementation in the state.

The department has no legal right to impose these requirements on Missouri citizens, and it is absolutely abhorrent that this information is reportedly stored and sent to an outside company. Missourians have a right to their privacy, and this is a disturbing overreach of the department’s authority. 

Last week, one of my colleagues subpoenaed the department to produce documents related to the sharing of biometric data and conceal carry permits. On Tuesday, we received 16 boxes of documents from DOR. We’re now in the process of digging through this information as we try to get to the bottom of the situation. We will continue investigating these charges until we know exactly what’s going on and can take the necessary steps to stop any inappropriate actions.

This week, the Senate approved legislation that protects Missourians’ property rights. In the early 1990s, the United Nations adopted a plan for sustainable development known as Agenda 21. Although it was created with the best of intentions, several components of the measure threaten American’s most fundamental rights, including the owning of private property and its associated freedoms.

We have to be vigilant in the fight against government overreach. Our rights may be inalienable, but they’re not guaranteed. We have to be proactive in pushing back against big government programs that slowly chip away at our civil liberties.

Senate Bill 265, which we gave final approval to on Thursday, prohibits state and local governments from implementing policies affecting property rights without due process, among other provisions. The legislation simply reaffirms Missourians’ rights in regards to their private property. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.