Jackson County Exec Frank White Blames Manny Abarca For Gun Ordinance Lawsuit

We wanted to feature this presser because other local media didn't pick it up, it offers important background AND the statement probably the most relevant political counterpoint and push back to start the weekend . . . 

Also, it's the latest salvo amid a longstanding rivalry . . . We won't ruin the statement with too much prologue because it speaks for itself.

Check-it:

STATEMENT FROM JACKSON COUNTY EXECUTIVE FRANK WHITE, JR. On Lawsuit Filed by Missouri Attorney General Over County Gun Ordinance 

"(The) lawsuit from Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey was inevitable. Its outcome is just as certain.

Before this ordinance was even introduced, I requested a formal legal opinion from the County Counselor’s Office—on behalf of the Legislature—because the ordinance’s sponsor, Legislator Manny Abarca, failed to do so. That opinion clearly stated the ordinance would violate state law, expose the County to costly litigation, and ultimately be unenforceable. I shared that legal opinion with every member of the Legislature. I personally warned them. Then I vetoed the ordinance, offering yet another opportunity to avoid this wasteful and counterproductive fight.

But that warning was ignored. My veto was overridden. And now, just as predicted, Jackson County taxpayers are footing the bill for what is nothing more than a performative political act.

Let me be clear: I am not afraid of taking on tough fights. I’ve led this County in pushing back against the State of Missouri—and I’ve won:

- When the Missouri General Assembly passed the unconstitutional Second Amendment Preservation Act, I joined forces with the St. Louis County Executive, the Mayor of St. Louis, and the U.S. Department of Justice to help strike it down.

- When the Attorney General attempted to strip away local public health authority, I stood with health professionals inside and outside government to reinstate longstanding, life-saving laws that keep our communities safe.

- When Legislator Abarca sued Jackson County so that he and his colleagues could serve simultaneously on both local school boards and the County Legislature—despite the County Charter explicitly forbidding it, the County Counselor warning him it was unlawful, and the clear, obvious conflict of interest—he chose to proceed anyway. We stood up for the law, defended the Charter, and we won. Once again, at great financial cost to taxpayers.

We win these fights because we choose them wisely. Because we follow the law. Because we respect the courts, the Constitution, and the trust that the people have placed in us.

Legislator Abarca’s blatant disregard for the law—and his apparent belief that the rules don’t apply to him—is not just reckless. It’s dangerous. It reflects a mindset that says court orders can be ignored, and that politics are more important than governing. That kind of behavior should alarm every resident of Jackson County. It’s the kind of behavior we’ve seen infect Washington, D.C.—and we cannot let it take root here.

This lawsuit is a distraction from real solutions. But it doesn’t have to be a disaster. Legislator Megan Marshall has introduced a common-sense amendment that would fix the ordinance and align our code with Kansas City’s existing gun safety provisions—measures crafted to avoid violating Missouri’s preemption law.

I strongly urge the Legislature to adopt this fix before more taxpayer dollars are wasted defending an ordinance that is doomed in court. The people of Jackson County deserve leadership that doesn’t chase headlines, but delivers results.

Public service is not about performative politics. It’s about doing the right thing—even when it’s hard. Let’s get back to that."

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