Missouri Action Alert: Help Protect Privacy from State, Federal Surveillance Programs

Missouri HB2104 would help block the use of cell site simulators, commonly known as “stingrays.” These devices essentially spoof cell phone towers, tricking any device within range into connecting to the stingray instead of the tower, allowing law enforcement to sweep up communications content, as well as locate and track the person in possession of a specific phone or other electronic device.

The bill would also prohibit the state and its political subdivisions from assisting, participating with, or providing “material support or resources, to a federal agency to enable it to collect, or to facilitate the collection or use of a person’s electronic data”

The legislation passed the House by an overwhelming 136-1 vote on Mar. 8 and is now in the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee where it will need to be approved before moving forward.

PLEASE TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTIONS to support this important bill.

1. Call the Senate Judiciary and Civil and Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Chair, Bob Dixon. Strongly, but respectfully, urge him to hold a hearing on HB2104, then an executive session for a vote. A phone call has 10x the impact of an email.
Dixon: (573) 751-2583

2. Call all the rest of the committee members. Again, be firm, but respectful. Urge each of them to take action to move the bill forward and vote YES on HB2104.

Bob Onder (R) Vice Chair – (573) 751-1282
Ed Emery (R) – (573) 751-2108
Jason Holzman (D) – (573) 751-6607
Andrew Koenig (R) – (573) 751-5568
Scott Sifton (D) – (573) 751-0220

3. Call Back – any NO or UNDECIDED – in 2-3 days. Make sure to follow-up. If they say YES, be sure to thank them and, if possible, announce their committed YES vote to email and social media contacts. If they say no, politely ask them why. Get the information from them and contact us.

4. Spread the Word. Share this information widely by facebook, twitter, email and other social networks.

5. Report Back. Tell us how your actions went. Click the button below.

Tenth Amendment Center

The Tenth Amendment Center is a national think tank that works to preserve and protect the principles of strictly limited government through information, education, and activism. The center serves as a forum for the study and exploration of state and individual sovereignty issues, focusing primarily on the decentralization of federal government power as required by the Constitution. For more information visit the Tenth Amendment Center Blog.