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The United States Department of Justice filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to overturn Missouri’s Second Amendment Preservation Act.

The Act, which was signed into law last June, “declares as invalid all federal laws that infringe on the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article I, Section 23 of the Missouri Constitution. Some laws declared invalid under this act include certain taxes, certain registration and tracking laws, certain prohibitions on the possession, ownership, use, or transfer of a specific type of firearm, and confiscation orders as provided in the act.”

Missouri’s law prohibits any police officer from enforcing federal laws which the Act invalidates, or the officer can be fined up to $50,000.

In their complaint, which was filed Wednesday, the Justice Department argues that the Act prevents critical intelligence sharing between state and federal law enforcement.

“A state cannot simply declare federal laws invalid,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton said in a written statement Wednesday. “This act makes enforcement of federal firearms laws difficult and strains the important law enforcement partnerships that help keep violent criminals off the street.”

According to court documents, the Justice Department is seeking a declaratory judgement stating that the Act is “invalid, null, void, and of no effect, and further clarifying that state and local officials may lawfully participate in joint federal task forces, assist in the investigation and enforcement of federal firearm crimes, and fully share information with the Federal Government without fear of (the Act’s) penalties; Injunctive relief against the State of Missouri, including its officers, agents, and employees, prohibiting any and all implementation and enforcement” of the Act, in addition to court costs.

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