GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee recently urged gun dealers to nullify in effect any future presidential orders requiring firearms background checks.

In a recent interview with Newsmax TV, Huckabee said gun dealers should simply refuse to cooperate with any executive order requiring new background checks.

“The president can’t make law, he just can’t,” Huckabee said. “We are just simply not going to do that, because you don’t have the authority to order it.”

Huckabee’s recommendation is an application the strategy of nullifying in effect through non-cooperation. And we’re seeing this strategy talked about and effectively applied more and more in a nation-wide resistance effort led by responsible gun owners.

James Madison laid out this idea when he penned Federalist #46.

“Should an unwarrantable measure of the federal government be unpopular in particular States, which would seldom fail to be the case, or even a warrantable measure be so, which may sometimes be the case, the means of opposition to it are powerful and at hand. The disquietude of the people; their repugnance and, perhaps, refusal to co-operate with the officers of the Union…would oppose, in any State, very serious impediments; and were the sentiments of several adjoining States happen to be in Union, would present obstructions which the federal government would hardly be willing to encounter.” [Emphasis added]

Some local law enforcement officers are heeding Madison’s advice. As reported by Shallnot.org writer TJ Martinell, Sheriff John Hanlin of Douglas County, Ore., is standing up and refusing to enforce unconstitutional gun control measures.

“Hanlin’s responsibility is to protect the rights of his citizens, and he is doing this far better than the gun control proponents calling for his political head for daring to adhere to the Constitution. He is also proving that noncompliance is an incredibly effective way of dismantling federal gun control laws.”

Some of Sheriff Hanlin’s colleagues are following his example.

“When I prioritize what I need to do as a sheriff, the SAFE Act comes in at the bottom of that list,” says Christopher Moss, the sheriff in Chemung County, a rural area near the Pennsylvania border. “I do look at it personally as an infringement on Second Amendment rights.”

In the same vein, many ordinary people are simply ignoring state laws such as the 2013 New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act. According to NPR, the law requires citizens to register previously owned firearms. Citizens, on the other hand, are simply ignoring the law.

“I don’t pay attention, to be honest,” says Joseph Fuller of Cohoes, N.Y. “I have friends out in the boondocks. They won’t register their guns either. And they told me … don’t even bother. Don’t worry about it.”

As much as we should praise Huckabee’s advice, and the actions of Sheriff Hanlin and Moss, we need more. We need to make every effort possible to withdraw cooperation from any federal actions infringing on our natural right to keep and bear arms. .

This is why we need your support.

Contact your local legislators and ask them to propose Second Amendment Protection Acts (SAPA). Join with other states that have already passed such laws and banned cooperation with future encroachments to their rights. By so doing, you will make it perfectly clear – we will not comply.

matthewsickmeier

The 10th Amendment

“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.”

LEARN MORE

01

Featured Articles

On the Constitution, history, the founders, and analysis of current events.

featured articles

02

Tenther Blog and News

Nullification news, quick takes, history, interviews, podcasts and much more.

tenther blog

03

State of the Nullification Movement

232 pages. History, constitutionality, and application today.

get the report

01

Path to Liberty

Our flagship podcast. Michael Boldin on the constitution, history, and strategy for liberty today

path to liberty

02

Maharrey Minute

The title says it all. Mike Maharrey with a 1 minute take on issues under a 10th Amendment lens. maharrey minute

Tenther Essentials

2-4 minute videos on key Constitutional issues - history, and application today

TENTHER ESSENTIALS

Join TAC, Support Liberty!

Nothing helps us get the job done more than the financial support of our members, from just $2/month!

JOIN TAC

01

The 10th Amendment

History, meaning, and purpose - the "Foundation of the Constitution."

10th Amendment

03

Nullification

Get an overview of the principles, background, and application in history - and today.

nullification