Thread by @Lynz_Simmons

Because this is Missouri and there’s no shortage of racism, I also want you all to know about one of the worst bills I have ever seen in Missouri General Assembly.

Senate Bill 666 makes Missouri a safe haven for the lynching of black men.

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That this bill is in direct response to the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, the reckless actions of the McClosky’s + the sham that was the Rittenhouse trial there is no doubt.

But before delving into the new law, let’s recap where Missouri is currently in terms of crime law.

Recall, that Missouri is now a safe haven for criminals using guns.

In 2021, it became illegal for local law enforcement to work with federal law officials if the crime involved the use of a firearm.

In fact, local authorities have let fugitives go for fear of violating that law and being fined $50,000.

kansascity.com/news/politics-…

That law was written in the aftermath of January 6th so that Missouri would function as a safe haven for militias and domestic terrorists.

And mind you, this law passed *after* the NAACP had already issued a travel warning for the state of Missouri.

cnn.com/2017/08/02/us/…

So here we are.

America’s foremost breeding ground for domestic terrorism—with local law enforcement unable to work with the feds or stop gun crime.

And now, we have SB 666 sitting in the Missouri Senate.

This new piece of legislation would shield those claiming they acted in self-defense from having to prove that their fear was reasonable.

Let’s break that down for anyone not wasting away in law school debt.

Under current law, and the law of the entire country, to prove you acted in self-defense you have the burden of proving you reasonably believed deadly force was necessary to defend yourself or others.

No one has a right to inflict harm upon another—but as a society we recognize that if your life is out into jeopardy by another you have a right to defend yourself.

However, you then have to justify why you believed your life was in jeopardy.

SB 666 would change that.

It would grant anyone who claims self-defense the benefit of believing they were acting reasonably. No proof necessary. Just the presumption the person acted in good faith.

That’s right.

If you kill someone in the street, and claim it was self-defense, you are “immune from criminal prosecution” and the police “may not arrest” you, unless they think your use of force was unlawful.

And you can only be prosecuted if the state can prove by “clear and convincing evidence” that you didn’t act reasonably.

This shifts the burden completely off of the individual who has already—by virtue of claiming self-defense—admitted committing a violent act.

It means that person doesn’t have to justify their actions or explain to a jury’s satisfaction that they reasonably feared for their life.

This law makes the presumption that anyone claiming self-defense is telling the truth.

Combine that with the fact local law enforcement can’t investigate federal gun crimes any longer and what you’re creating in Missouri is a legal framework that makes the state a safe haven for criminal activity.

A place where murder + lynching is self-defense.

Never forget that when far too many view blackness as a deadly weapon, there will always be people who feel justified in “protecting” themselves from it.

So they legalize murder.

SB 666 is that law.

BONUS TWEET:

SB666 was given a hearing this morning.

@CoMo_Kristin provided this thread capturing the testimony for and against the bill.

Check it out to learn more about how this is advancing in Missouri.

And for those of you who want more details about Missouri invalidating federal gun laws, you can check out the thread below from this summer.

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And for everyone thinking Missouri Courts will save us, a thread on what the Missouri Legislature tried to do to our courts last year.

They didn’t ultimately succeed, but chances are they will try again.

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