President Barack Obama’s public declaration that he may use executive orders to heighten gun tracking on a national level in the wake of the Newtown shooting has received backlash from gun supporters nationwide. The debate has stirred emotions on all points on the political spectrum. In some cases, the response has been more than rhetorical.

Former state Sen. Jeff Smith was sentenced on Tuesday in St. Louis federal court to one year in prison on federal charges. Steve Brown and Nick Adams were also sentenced.

Jeff Smith, a Missouri state senator who frequently taught at Washington University, resigned his Senate seat and pled guilty in federal court on Tuesday to two counts of conspiracy to obstruct justice, after weeks of speculation about a federal investigation into Smith and others who worked on his 2004 congressional campaign.

State Sen. Jeff Smith’s statement on resigning from office.

Jeff Smith, a lecturer at Washington University and a Missouri state senator, resigned his post in the legislature and plead guilty to two felony charges related to his 2004 campaign for the U.S. congress. This is his letter of resignation.

Jeff Smith, a lecturer at Washington University and a Missouri state senator, resigned his post in the legislature earlier today after several weeks of speculation about a federal investigation.

Speculation over the political future of state Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, is continuing, as former students and staffers of Smith’s struggle to come to terms with recent reports of a federal inquiry into the Washington University instructor.

Reports have surfaced that Washington University instructor and state Sen. Jeff Smith, D-St. Louis, could resign his seat amid a possible federal inquiry regarding his 2004 congressional campaign.