The Missouri legislature passed three sweeping bills late Wednesday that will help create jobs for the state.
Wait, what? They didn't actually do that? They decided that nullifying federal gun laws, being able to fire teachers if they refuse to carry guns in their classrooms and banning Sharia law would help put Missouri residents back to work?
You don't say...
I find it interesting that this is what this legislature thinks is what is most important right now.
The man who championed these bills, Senate Majority Whip Brian Nieves (R-Washington), who resides in Franklin County, had this to say:
"Tonight (Wed) was an historic night for Missouri and her citizens," Nieves wrote (on his Facebook page). "Our private property rights, our court system, and the assertion of our 2nd amendment rights were all impacted positively by the final passage of three of my 2013 Bills!"
I need to quibble with Mr. Nieves here. You see, according to the Missouri Department of Labor & Industrial Relations, the unemployment rate for his county was at 8.6 percent in February. I would think that his constituents might be better served if these bills he's crowing about actually created jobs.
Of course, my own representative decided that mentioning the Boston bombings on the floor would bolster his argument about supporting the "guns for teachers" bill.
Here's Rep. Doug Funderburk (R-St. Peters):
"I bet those folks in Boston wish they had guns in their home when terrorists were running around with bombs," he said.
Sigh. This from a man I used to respect because he did have a level head when he was serving at the county level.
The unemployment rate in St. Charles County in February was 6.3 percent. A bit better, but I'm sure his constituents would rather be working too. How do I know? They're my neighbors.
The gun bill will also protect teachers! Um, actually, no it won't. Especially teachers who don't think it's a good idea to be carrying a weapon into their classrooms.
The legislation also has provisions to allow school districts to designate teachers and administrators as "school protection officers," with rights to carry guns and provide security services during the school day. Under the terms of the law, a teacher who is designated to carry a gun, but does not bring one, could be fired. School protection officers also could detain for up to four hours anyone they believe is violating the law, before turning the individual over to law enforcement.
But, but, but Obama's going to take our guns and enshrine Sharia law into our state!
This act creates the Civil Liberties Defense Act. This act mandates that any court, arbitration, tribunal, or administrative agency ruling shall be unenforceable if based on a foreign law which is repugnant or inconsistent with the Missouri and United States constitutions.
This will help create jobs, right? Not really. Opponents of the bill said it will make it more difficult for foreign companies to do business in the state.
I find it interesting that the word 'repugnant' was used in the wording of this bill. It is repugnant that we have to suffer these fools. It is repugnant that the state's unemployment rate was at 6.7 percent in February and this is what our legislators have decided is important.
Here's an observation about the state's unemployment rate: We had 49 counties with unemployment above the national rate of 7.5 percent with the highest at 18.3 percent in February.