Not long after many felt federal courts dealt a hard blow with the same sex marriage ruling, Missouri courts upheld fundamental rights for each Missourian. The right to bear arms is so fundamental it was laid out in the founding days of our country and state. This is a right our forefathers understood and wanted to provide protection for.

In 2014, 60 percent of Missouri voters supported the Missouri Right to Bear Arms Amendment. It was later challenged in the Missouri Supreme Court by groups backed by liberal anti-gun activists.

Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia, sponsored legislation that was passed. He also successfully saw the case, in regards to the amendment, through both trial court and Missouri’s highest court.

The amendment established the unalienable right of citizens to keep and bear arms, ammunition and accessories associated with the normal operation and use of firearms, for the purpose of defense of that person, their family, home or property. The voter-approved amendment allows the state to limit the possession of arms by convicted felons and those deemed as mentally ill. Missouri citizens had the right to bear arms in defense of home, person and property, but the right was not considered “unalienable.”

A person cannot surrender, sell or transfer, unalienable rights. Those rights are seen as being given after they are voted on, signed into law, and – cannot, under any circumstances – be surrendered or taken away. All individuals have unalienable rights. Other rights not defined as being unalienable can be amended or even eliminated.

Senator Schaefer has worked hard to secure these rights for Missourians; citizens of this great state voted to include this as one of their most fundamental rights. I am pleased this issue is no longer in jeopardy due to the misinformed voices of a few.

The Missouri Right to Bear Arms Amendment provides Missourians some of the strongest protections of their gun rights of any state in the United States.  The amendment was and is supported by the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Missourians Protecting the 2nd Amendment Committee.