Testimony given on March 6, 2013 in favor of Montana House Bill 302 – a bill to require all political agencies and subdivisions of the state to refuse compliance with any federal bans on semi-automatic firearms or large capacity magazines.

My name is Tim Ravndal. I’m from Townsend, Brownwater County. I’m here this morning representing myself as a citizen of Montana, the Tenth Amendment Center, Constitutional Defenders and Oath Keepers.

We rise in support of this legislation this morning simply because of constitutional provisions that are provided to protect the rights of the people.

This is a state’s rights bill. It provides an opportunity for the people of Montana to ensure that those rights are not infringed upon. The case of Printz vs US in 1997 has been mentioned, and this is certainly a case that set precedent right here in Montana with Sheriff Printz making that challenge on the Brady law.

Some opponents of this bill will say we cannot pass legislation based on the potential, or the maybe’s if’s, can’s might’s, be what happens in Washington DC. We will strongly will disagree with that premise on the basis we have already seen legislation enacted coming from the top end and have already had that happen.

So we need to be prepared. We need to take a proactive approach here in Montana to protect the rights of the people. This bill protects us under the 9th and the 10th amendments. It also is really important to make sure we emphasize the duel sovereignty in the supremacy question.

Article 2 Section 12 of the State Constitution: Our rights to keep and bear arms shall not be called into question. Period.

The second amendment: Our rights “shall not be infringed.” Period. We cannot allow for those rights to be taken lightly. We have had different departments have come through the back door. Given example: Obamacare has come through with certain sections, that after it was passed, it was realized there are provisions that inflict on our rights. Specifically on the right to keep and bear arms.

We need to be prepared to head this off. House bill 302 moves us in that direction by giving the people a proactive stance. It says not just no, but excuse my language, Hell No!

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