Missouri Senate votes to block federal gun law enforcement
![Handguns in a display case.](https://abc17news.b-cdn.net/abc17news.com/2019/12/guns.jpg)
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri senators have passed a bill to block local police from enforcing federal gun laws.
The Republican-led state Senate on Thursday voted 22-10 in favor of the bill.
The GOP-led House now faces a Friday deadline to pass the legislation.
The measure would penalize local police agencies if their officers enforce federal gun laws.
Those police departments could be sued and fined $50,000 for every violation.
Republican backers say they're motivated by the possibility of new federal gun restrictions under Democratic President Joe Biden and the Democratic-led U.S. House.