Free Republic

Alaska has become the eighth state to declare that firearms made, sold and owned in the state are beyond the reach of the federal bureaucrats along the Potomac, with Gov. Sean Parnell's signature on the plan today. "The Alaska Firearms Freedom Act frees Alaskans from overly bureaucratic and restrictive federal firearm regulation, and allows our state to assume the responsibility for regulation," said Rep. Mike Kelly, the lead sponsor on the plan endorsed by lawmakers in the recently closed session of the Alaska Legislature. "The Interstate Commerce Clause is used by the federal government to regulate firearms that cross state...

The federal government is arguing in a gun-rights case pending in federal court in Montana that state plans to exempt in-state guns from various federal requirements themselves make the laws void, because the growing movement certainly would impact "interstate commerce." The government continues to argue to the court that the Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution should be the guiding rule for the coming decision. The argument plays down the significance of both the Second Amendment right to bear arms and the 10th Amendment provision that reserves to states all prerogatives not specifically granted the federal government in the Constitution....

HELENA, Mont. -- The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence is joining the federal government's fight to stop states that want to exempt themselves from national gun control laws, arguing the effort threatens public safety.The gun control advocates and the U.S. Department of Justice both filed new arguments Tuesday in the ongoing legal battle over federal gun control and states rights.The issue was sparked with the "firearm freedoms act" first enacted in Montana last year and subsequently in several other states, and is leading to a constitutional showdown over the reach of Congress into state borders.The states argue they should...

Call for Wyoming special legislative session gains little traction May 5, 2010 by Phil Noble Filed under Today's News by Phil Noble, Cowboy State Free Press Bureau Chief CHEYENNE — With great showmanship, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., hefted the 2,700 page national health care bill he and others call “Obamacare” and tossed it onto the stage at the Wyoming Republican State Convention in Sheridan last weekend, saying “it’s time we threw out this bill.” Others, like a Cheyenne woman who moved to Wyoming five years ago to escape what she saw as socialist tendencies of European countries, have taken...

OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Brad Henry on Tuesday vetoed a bill to exempt Oklahoma-made guns and ammunition from federal regulations, saying the measure would make it easier for criminals to obtain weapons and endanger citizens and law enforcement. Similar to laws passed in at least four other states, the "Oklahoma Firearms Freedom Act" states that firearms, gun accessories or ammunition produced in Oklahoma would not be subject to interstate commerce laws and federal regulations if the items remain in the state. The bill does not apply to certain large firearms and exploding ammunition. "I'm a strong supporter of the Second...

Lawmakers in Montana are suggesting that the courts should be deciding whether Congress has overstepped its authority in a dispute over a state exemption from federal regulations for guns made and sold inside state boundaries. "Should Congress enact a law that appears to conflict with the guidance in the [Montana Firearms Freedom Act], the courts may then determine whether Congress has acted within the scope of its delegated powers as limited by later amendments," an amicus brief on behalf of Montana legislators, said. "The courts may then determine the extent to which Congress's enactment has abrogated the state's execise of...

Governor Jan Brewer (R) today signed HB2307, Arizona's version of the Firearms Freedom Act, making Arizona the sixth state, behind Montana and Tennessee, who passed theirs in 2009, and Wyoming, Utah, and South Dakota which did so earlier this year.For those not familiar, the FFA is a Tenth Amendment as much as a gun rights issue, declaring firearms and accessories manufactured, sold and used within the state to be beyond the reach of federal regulation.After Montana and Tennessee had the audacity last year to pass legislation after actually having read the Constitution, the ATF sent a letter to FFL's in...

New Bill Requires State Attorney General To Sue The Federal Government If Health Care "Reform" Is Implemented Idaho’s governor C. L. Otter has signed a bill which nullifies any health care legislation passed by Congress and requires that state’s attorney general to file a lawsuit against the federal government if such legislation were to be imposed. The Idaho Health Freedom Act is the second bill of its type, following on the heels of a similar bill passed in Virginia on March 5. That state’s attorney general has said that he will sue the federal government if a health care “reform”...

Britain expels an Israeli diplomat on Tuesday to rebuke Israel for its alleged use of forged British passports in the assassination of a Hamas operative in a suspected Mossad hit, a UK government official said. Foreign Secretary David Miliband addressed Parliament over the issue, following an investigation into the use of 12 fake UK passports in the incident. The Foreign Secretary has said there are “compelling reasons” to believe Israel is behind the cloned British passports used by the alleged killers of a Hamas official in Dubai.

FEDERAL HEALTH CARE PLAN REMARKS March 22, 2010 It is not part of my job as the Attorney General of Colorado to weigh in on whether the Patient Protection and Affordability Health Care Act passed by Congress yesterday is good public policy. It is however, part of my job to defend the rights of the State of Colorado and its citizens from the exercise of federal power in violation of the United States Constitution. The U. S. Constitution gives the federal government only enumerated powers. All other powers are expressly left to the states and their people. One such enumerated...

COLUMBUS — President Barack Obama is expected to sign sweeping changes in the American health-care system on Tuesday, but a group of Ohioans Monday began the process of limiting its impact in this state. In a modern-day equivalent of declaring states' rights, the Ohio Liberty Council and the conservative Tea Party movement have launched an effort to amend the Ohio Constitution to declare that no law can force and individual, employer, or health-care provider in the state to participate in the national reforms. It would also prohibit anyone who refuses to participate, including those required to buy or provide insurance,...

WASHINGTON, March 19 (Reuters) - At least 15 U.S. states have sued the Environmental Protection Agency seeking to stop it from issuing rules controlling greenhouse gas emissions until it reexamines whether the pollution harms human health.

Contact phone number removed by me. -Cindy # Note: The following text is a quote: C.L. "BUTCH" OTTER GOVERNOR NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 17, 2010 10:023 GOVERNOR SIGNS IDAHO HEALTH FREEDOM ACT (BOISE) – Hailing it as a reflection of public dismay with Washington, D.C., and a clear expression of State sovereignty, Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter welcomed legislative sponsors to his office at the Capitol today for the signing of House Bill 391 – the Idaho Health Freedom Act. “Congress and the White House are working out their scheme for pushing through a healthcare ‘reform’ bill that has...

GREAT NEWS! March 16, 2010 I am so excited to report that there has been progress in moving the Health Care Freedom Act SJR25 forward to protect Missourians from federal health care mandates. Sen. Charlie Shields is putting the bill on the Senate calendar TODAY! Sen. Shields will address the "Check Up" rally tomorrow, so let's show our appreciation at that time with encouragement to the leadership and all the senators to do all they can to get SJR25 to a vote of The People! God Bless America,

A fifth state – South Dakota – has decided that guns made, sold and used within its borders no longer are subject to the whims of the federal government through its rule-making arm in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and two supporters of the growing groundswell say they hope Washington soon will be taking note. South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds has signed into law his state's version of a Firearms Freedom Act that first was launched in Montana. It already is law there, in Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming, which took the unusual step of specifying criminal penalties –...

The South is rising again. Before I go any further, let me clarify. Sadly, too many in our country possess the superficial and ignorant perception that the only impetus behind southern secession was to perpetuate the abhorrent practice of slavery. Therefore, when they hear such a phrase, their kneejerk reaction tells them this must be about race. I assure you, it’s not. When the North invaded the South during the 1860s, it was to deny the southern states the ultimate expression of their sovereignty – the ability to withdraw from a union they had voluntarily joined. Interestingly, secession was a...

NINTH AMENDMENT to the US Constitution: The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.TENTH AMENDMENT to the US Constitution: The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. As I have observed over the past few months the “State Sovereignty Movement” continues to sweep the nation with well over three-quarters of the fifty states taking action, through their respective state legislatures, re-establishing their “sovereignty”. It is being reported...

2 years in jail also possible for agent enforcing U.S. regulations on firearm Wyoming has joined a growing list of states with self-declared exemptions from federal gun regulation of weapons made, bought and used inside state borders – but lawmakers in the Cowboy State have taken the issue one step further, adopting significant penalties for federal agents attempting to enforce Washington's rules. According to a law signed into effect yesterday by Democratic Gov. Dave Freudenthal, any agent of the U.S. who "enforces or attempts to enforce" federal gun rules on a "personal firearm" in Wyoming faces a felony conviction and...

South Dakota --(AmmoLand.com)- The South Dakota Legislature has passed the South Dakota Firearms Freedom Act and that bill is enroute to the Governor’s desk. Governor Michael Rounds has indicated that he’s comfortable with the SDFFA and will sign the bill when it reaches his office. SD will make the fourth state that has enacted a clone of the Montana Firearms Freedom Act. Once the Wyoming and South Dakota governors sign their respective bills into law, they will join Montana, Tennessee and Utah with enacted laws.

Font Size: Default font size Larger font size Gov. Dave Freudenthal on Thursday signed into law a bill that seeks to exempt firearms made in Wyoming and used exclusively in the state from federal regulations, making the state the latest to try to undermine federal authority on gun regulation. Montana, Tennessee and Utah have already passed similar legislation to exempt firearms made in their states from federal regulations and Idaho and Alaska have been considering it. A lawsuit over the issue is brewing in Montana, where gun advocates are arguing that the state should decide which rules, if any, should...