Another State Introduces Firearms Freedom Act
By Chuck Baldwin
November 6, 2009
This column is archived at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/cbarchive_20091106.html
According to a report published on the Tenth Amendment Center's web site,
"Introduced in the Ohio House on October 16, 2009, the 'Firearms Freedom
Act' (HB-315) seeks 'To enact section 2923.26 of the Revised Code to provide
that ammunition, firearms, and firearm accessories that are manufactured and
remain in Ohio are not subject to federal laws and regulations derived under
Congress' authority to regulate interstate commerce and to require the words
"Made in Ohio" be stamped on a central metallic part of any firearm
manufactured and sold in Ohio.'"
The report went on to say, "While the HB315's title focuses on federal gun
regulations, it has far more to do with the 10th Amendment's limit on the
power of the federal government. It specifically states:
"'The regulation of intrastate commerce is vested in the states under the
Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, particularly
if not expressly preempted by federal law. The congress of the United States
has not expressly preempted state regulation of intrastate commerce
pertaining to the manufacture on an intrastate basis of firearms, firearm
accessories, and ammunition.'
"Some supporters of the legislation say that a successful application of
such a state-law would set a strong precedent and open the door for states
to take their own positions on a wide range of activities that they see as
not being authorized to the Federal Government by the Constitution."
See the report at:
http://tinyurl.com/10amdmt-ffa-ohio
Two states have already passed their own Firearms Freedom Acts: Montana and
Tennessee. And, along with Ohio, at least 7 other states have introduced
similar bills. Those states are Alaska, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.
More information regarding the status of these State bills can be seen at:
http://tinyurl.com/10amdmt-ffa
As you might suspect, the federal government doesn't take too kindly to
these State laws. In fact, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives (ATF) sent an open letter to all Montana and Tennessee firearms
dealers denouncing the State laws. ATF assistant director Carson Carroll
wrote that "Federal law supersedes the Act."
The Tenth Amendment Center quotes constitutional historian Kevin Gutzman as
correctly stating, "Their [ATF's] view is that the states exist for the
administrative convenience of the Federal Government, and so of course any
conflict between state and federal policy must be resolved in favor of the
latter.
"This is another way of saying that the Tenth Amendment is not binding on
the Federal Government. Of course, that amounts to saying that federal
officials have decided to ignore the Constitution when it doesn't suit
them."
Ah! But that's just the problem: the federal government has been ignoring
the Constitution for decades--so much so that if there is going to be any
restoration of genuine liberty in the country, the states are going to have
to stand up to this out-of-control national leviathan and say, "No." And
they are going to have to say it loudly enough for Washington to get the
message. And I cannot think of a freedom issue that is better to "draw a
line in the sand" for than the issue of the right of the people to keep and
bear arms.
At the end of the day, the Second Amendment was never about hunting or
target shooting. It has always been about protecting the people and states
against federal tyranny.
The Second Amendment itself states, "A well regulated Militia, BEING
NECESSARY TO THE SECURITY OF A FREE STATE, the right of the people to keep
and bear Arms shall not be infringed." (Emphasis added.) Note that the
purpose of the right to keep and bear arms was to insure "the security of a
FREE STATE." (Emphasis added.) "Free from what?" you ask. Free from federal
tyranny. Free from an overbearing, encroaching, heavy-handed, would-be
national government.
The founders--even the Centralists of the day--all acknowledged that the
right to keep and bear arms was, first of all, for the protection of the
people against government tyranny. Observe:
"[I]f circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army
of any magnitude that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the
people while there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior
to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their
own rights and those of their fellow-citizens." (Alexander Hamilton, The
Federalist Papers, Number 29)
"While the people have property, arms in their hands, and only a spark of
noble spirit, the most corrupt Congress must be mad to form any project of
tyranny." (Rev. Nicholas Collin, Fayetteville [NC] Gazette, October 12,
1789)
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear
arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in
government." (Thomas Jefferson)
"Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? . . . Congress has no power to
disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the
soldier, are the birthright of an American . . . [T]he unlimited power of
the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments,
but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people."
(Tench Coxe, ally of James Madison and member of the Continental Congress,
Freeman's Journal, February 20, 1778)
Coxe also said, "As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly
before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must
be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to
the injury of their fellow-citizens, the people are confirmed by the next
article [the Second Amendment] in their right to keep and bear their private
arms." (Remarks on the First Part of the Amendments to the Federal
Constitution, Philadelphia Federal Gazette, June 18, 1789)
So, for now, 10 states have proposed--and 2 have passed--a Firearms Freedom
Act, properly declaring that federal authority granted in the Constitution
regarding interstate commerce cannot apply to products (firearms, in this
case) that are manufactured and sold within the territory of each respective
State. In other words, 10 States are serving notice to Washington, D.C.,
that they are going to insist that the federal government stop ignoring the
Constitution of the United States.
In the same vein, Tennessee State legislator Susan Lynn recently sent an
open letter to the State legislative bodies of the other 49 states stating:
"On June 23, 2009, House Joint Resolution 108, the State Sovereignty
Resolution, was signed by Governor Phil Bredesen. The Resolution created a
committee which has as its charge to:
*Communicate the resolution to the legislatures of the several states,
*Assure them that this State continues in the same esteem of their
friendship,
*Call for a joint working group between the states to enumerate the abuses
of authority by the federal government, and
*Seek repeal of the assumption of the powers and the imposed mandates."
In the body of her letter, Rep. Lynn states, "The role of our American
government has been blurred, bent, and breached. The rights endowed to us by
our creator must be restored."
The Tennessee State representative continued by saying, "The Constitution
does not include a congressional power to override state laws. It does not
give the judicial branch unlimited jurisdiction over all matters. It does
not provide Congress with the power to legislate over everything. This is
verified by the simple fact that attempts to make these principles part of
the Constitution were soundly rejected by its signers.
"With this in mind, any federal attempt to legislate beyond the
Constitutional limits of Congress' authority is a usurpation of state
sovereignty--and unconstitutional."
See Rep. Lynn's letter at:
http://tinyurl.com/10amdmt-ffa-rep-lynn
This is a battle that is just beginning to heat up, but promises to get
red-hot in the not-too-distant future. As for me and my house, we believe
this showdown is long overdue. To quote Patrick Henry, "Let it come! I
repeat it, Sir, let it come!"
*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these
editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by
credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link:
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/donate.php
(c) Chuck Baldwin
NOTE TO THE READER:
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includes contact information and a method of removal.
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Chuck Baldwin's commentaries are copyrighted and may be republished,
reposted, or emailed providing the person or organization doing so does not
charge for subscriptions or advertising and that the column is copied intact
and that full credit is given and that Chuck's web site address is included.
Editors or Publishers of publications charging for subscriptions or
advertising who want to run these columns must contact Chuck Baldwin for
permission. Radio or television Talk Show Hosts interested in scheduling an
interview with Chuck should contact chuck@chuckbaldwinlive.com
Readers may also respond to this column via snail mail. The postal address
is P.O. Box 37070, Pensacola, Florida, 32526. When responding, please
include your name, city and state. And, unless otherwise requested, all
respondents will be added to the Chuck Wagon address list.
Please visit Chuck's web site at http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com
***
According to a report published on the Tenth Amendment Center's web site,
"Introduced in the Ohio House on October 16, 2009, the 'Firearms Freedom
Act' (HB-315) seeks 'To enact section 2923.26 of the Revised Code to provide
that ammunition, firearms, and firearm accessories that are manufactured and
remain in Ohio are not subject to federal laws
By Chuck Baldwin
November 6, 2009
This column is archived at
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/c2009/cbarchive_20091106.html
According to a report published on the Tenth Amendment Center's web site,
"Introduced in the Ohio House on October 16, 2009, the 'Firearms Freedom
Act' (HB-315) seeks 'To enact section 2923.26 of the Revised Code to provide
that ammunition, firearms, and firearm accessories that are manufactured and
remain in Ohio are not subject to federal laws and regulations derived under
Congress' authority to regulate interstate commerce and to require the words
"Made in Ohio" be stamped on a central metallic part of any firearm
manufactured and sold in Ohio.'"
The report went on to say, "While the HB315's title focuses on federal gun
regulations, it has far more to do with the 10th Amendment's limit on the
power of the federal government. It specifically states:
"'The regulation of intrastate commerce is vested in the states under the
Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, particularly
if not expressly preempted by federal law. The congress of the United States
has not expressly preempted state regulation of intrastate commerce
pertaining to the manufacture on an intrastate basis of firearms, firearm
accessories, and ammunition.'
"Some supporters of the legislation say that a successful application of
such a state-law would set a strong precedent and open the door for states
to take their own positions on a wide range of activities that they see as
not being authorized to the Federal Government by the Constitution."
See the report at:
http://tinyurl.com/10amdmt-ffa-ohio
Two states have already passed their own Firearms Freedom Acts: Montana and
Tennessee. And, along with Ohio, at least 7 other states have introduced
similar bills. Those states are Alaska, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota,
Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.
More information regarding the status of these State bills can be seen at:
http://tinyurl.com/10amdmt-ffa
As you might suspect, the federal government doesn't take too kindly to
these State laws. In fact, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and
Explosives (ATF) sent an open letter to all Montana and Tennessee firearms
dealers denouncing the State laws. ATF assistant director Carson Carroll
wrote that "Federal law supersedes the Act."
The Tenth Amendment Center quotes constitutional historian Kevin Gutzman as
correctly stating, "Their [ATF's] view is that the states exist for the
administrative convenience of the Federal Government, and so of course any
conflict between state and federal policy must be resolved in favor of the
latter.
"This is another way of saying that the Tenth Amendment is not binding on
the Federal Government. Of course, that amounts to saying that federal
officials have decided to ignore the Constitution when it doesn't suit
them."
Ah! But that's just the problem: the federal government has been ignoring
the Constitution for decades--so much so that if there is going to be any
restoration of genuine liberty in the country, the states are going to have
to stand up to this out-of-control national leviathan and say, "No." And
they are going to have to say it loudly enough for Washington to get the
message. And I cannot think of a freedom issue that is better to "draw a
line in the sand" for than the issue of the right of the people to keep and
bear arms.
At the end of the day, the Second Amendment was never about hunting or
target shooting. It has always been about protecting the people and states
against federal tyranny.
The Second Amendment itself states, "A well regulated Militia, BEING
NECESSARY TO THE SECURITY OF A FREE STATE, the right of the people to keep
and bear Arms shall not be infringed." (Emphasis added.) Note that the
purpose of the right to keep and bear arms was to insure "the security of a
FREE STATE." (Emphasis added.) "Free from what?" you ask. Free from federal
tyranny. Free from an overbearing, encroaching, heavy-handed, would-be
national government.
The founders--even the Centralists of the day--all acknowledged that the
right to keep and bear arms was, first of all, for the protection of the
people against government tyranny. Observe:
"[I]f circumstances should at any time oblige the government to form an army
of any magnitude that army can never be formidable to the liberties of the
people while there is a large body of citizens, little, if at all, inferior
to them in discipline and the use of arms, who stand ready to defend their
own rights and those of their fellow-citizens." (Alexander Hamilton, The
Federalist Papers, Number 29)
"While the people have property, arms in their hands, and only a spark of
noble spirit, the most corrupt Congress must be mad to form any project of
tyranny." (Rev. Nicholas Collin, Fayetteville [NC] Gazette, October 12,
1789)
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear
arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in
government." (Thomas Jefferson)
"Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? . . . Congress has no power to
disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the
soldier, are the birthright of an American . . . [T]he unlimited power of
the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments,
but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people."
(Tench Coxe, ally of James Madison and member of the Continental Congress,
Freeman's Journal, February 20, 1778)
Coxe also said, "As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly
before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must
be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to
the injury of their fellow-citizens, the people are confirmed by the next
article [the Second Amendment] in their right to keep and bear their private
arms." (Remarks on the First Part of the Amendments to the Federal
Constitution, Philadelphia Federal Gazette, June 18, 1789)
So, for now, 10 states have proposed--and 2 have passed--a Firearms Freedom
Act, properly declaring that federal authority granted in the Constitution
regarding interstate commerce cannot apply to products (firearms, in this
case) that are manufactured and sold within the territory of each respective
State. In other words, 10 States are serving notice to Washington, D.C.,
that they are going to insist that the federal government stop ignoring the
Constitution of the United States.
In the same vein, Tennessee State legislator Susan Lynn recently sent an
open letter to the State legislative bodies of the other 49 states stating:
"On June 23, 2009, House Joint Resolution 108, the State Sovereignty
Resolution, was signed by Governor Phil Bredesen. The Resolution created a
committee which has as its charge to:
*Communicate the resolution to the legislatures of the several states,
*Assure them that this State continues in the same esteem of their
friendship,
*Call for a joint working group between the states to enumerate the abuses
of authority by the federal government, and
*Seek repeal of the assumption of the powers and the imposed mandates."
In the body of her letter, Rep. Lynn states, "The role of our American
government has been blurred, bent, and breached. The rights endowed to us by
our creator must be restored."
The Tennessee State representative continued by saying, "The Constitution
does not include a congressional power to override state laws. It does not
give the judicial branch unlimited jurisdiction over all matters. It does
not provide Congress with the power to legislate over everything. This is
verified by the simple fact that attempts to make these principles part of
the Constitution were soundly rejected by its signers.
"With this in mind, any federal attempt to legislate beyond the
Constitutional limits of Congress' authority is a usurpation of state
sovereignty--and unconstitutional."
See Rep. Lynn's letter at:
http://tinyurl.com/10amdmt-ffa-rep-lynn
This is a battle that is just beginning to heat up, but promises to get
red-hot in the not-too-distant future. As for me and my house, we believe
this showdown is long overdue. To quote Patrick Henry, "Let it come! I
repeat it, Sir, let it come!"
*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these
editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by
credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link:
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/donate.php
(c) Chuck Baldwin
NOTE TO THE READER:
This email editorial cannot be considered Spam as long as the sender
includes contact information and a method of removal.
To subscribe, click on this link and follow the instructions:
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/subscribe.php
To unsubscribe, click on this link and follow the instructions:
http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/unsubscribe.php
Chuck Baldwin's commentaries are copyrighted and may be republished,
reposted, or emailed providing the person or organization doing so does not
charge for subscriptions or advertising and that the column is copied intact
and that full credit is given and that Chuck's web site address is included.
Editors or Publishers of publications charging for subscriptions or
advertising who want to run these columns must contact Chuck Baldwin for
permission. Radio or television Talk Show Hosts interested in scheduling an
interview with Chuck should contact chuck@chuckbaldwinlive.com
Readers may also respond to this column via snail mail. The postal address
is P.O. Box 37070, Pensacola, Florida, 32526. When responding, please
include your name, city and state. And, unless otherwise requested, all
respondents will be added to the Chuck Wagon address list.
Please visit Chuck's web site at http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com
***
According to a report published on the Tenth Amendment Center's web site,
"Introduced in the Ohio House on October 16, 2009, the 'Firearms Freedom
Act' (HB-315) seeks 'To enact section 2923.26 of the Revised Code to provide
that ammunition, firearms, and firearm accessories that are manufactured and
remain in Ohio are not subject to federal laws
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