JACKSON, Miss. (Feb. 22, 2016) – A Mississippi bill that would bar state enforcement of some future executive orders or federal agency rules relating to gun control passed an important House committee last week. If ultimately passed into law, it would set the stage to effectively block such actions in practice within the state.
Rep. Mark Formby (R-Picayune), along with 13 cosponsors, introduced House Bill 782 (HB782) on Feb. 8. As passed by the House Judiciary B committee last week, the legislation would prohibit any state agency, political subdivision, and their employees from knowingly and willingly participating in any way in the enforcement of any future federal executive orders, or agency rules that were not passed by Congress and signed by the president, regarding a personal firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition if the act would be contrary to Section 12, Article 3, Mississippi Constitution of 1890.
The bill would also bar the utilization of any state assets, state funds, or funds allocated by the state to local entities for enforcement of the same. State officers violating the law would be subject to criminal penalties.
“The federal government is out of control, and the states have a duty to reestablish the rule of law. We have checks and balances, and the Supreme Court has clearly ruled that the states can’t just be ordered around by the federal government,” said Elaine Vechorik, Vice-President of Mississippi for Liberty.
IN PRACTICE
The Mississippi state constitution reads, in part:
“The right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called in question, but the legislature may regulate or forbid carrying concealed weapons.”
In his important study on the right to keep and bear arms in state constitutions, Constitutional Scholar Dave Kopel noted, “The concealed weapon restriction underscores that “the right to keep and bear arms” includes the right to carry non-concealed firearms for personal protection.”
As the NRA-ILA resource page for the state points out, Mississippi doesn’t require licensing, a permit to carry, or registration for rifles and shotguns, with handguns only needing a permit to carry, but no licensing or registration. It also has the Castle Doctrine enacted into law, right to carry in restaurants, and right to carry confidentiality, among other protections.
Any federal act, executive order, rule, regulation, or other measure that attempts to enact such restrictions would ensure that state or local enforcement of the federal gun control would be prohibited as violating “Section 12, Article 3, Mississippi Constitution of 1890.”
Recently-proposed federal measures, such as an M855 ammo ban would fall under the new law and state resources would be prohibited from being used to help the federal government enforce such a ban. And any attempt to bring in more gun control through a presidential executive order would also be covered under the bill.
FOUNDATIONAL FIRST STEP
If passed into law, HB782 would likely require further action to be put into practical effect. A lawsuit could be necessary to determine a violation of the state Constitution, or the legislature might need to create some mechanism to determine whether a federal action was contrary to the Mississippi constitution. The latter could be included in the bill this year with an amendment.
But even without such a bold move, the would set a good foundation to build on, and would represent an important strategic step forward. As Thomas Jefferson wrote to James Madison about the passage of the Kentucky Resolutions of 1798, it’s important to be strategic:
I think we should distinctly affirm all the important principles they contain, so as to hold to that ground in the future, and leave the matter in such a train as that we may not be committed absolutely to push the matter to extremities, & yet may be free to push as far as events will render prudent.
EFFECTIVE
Based on James Madison’s advice for states and individuals in Federalist #46, a “refusal to cooperate with officers of the Union” represents an extremely effective method to bring down federal gun control measures because most enforcement actions rely on help, support and leadership from the states.
Fox News senior judicial analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano agreed. In a televised discussion on the issue, he noted that a single state taking this step would make federal gun laws “nearly impossible” to enforce.
The federal government relies heavily on state cooperation to implement and enforce almost all of its laws, regulations and acts – including gun laws. By simply withdrawing this necessary cooperation, states can nullify in effect many federal actions. As noted by the National Governor’s Association during the partial government shutdown of 2013, “states are partners with the federal government on most federal programs.”
“Partnerships don’t work too well when half the team quits,” said Michael Boldin of the Tenth Amendment Center. “By withdrawing all resources and participation in federal gun control schemes, the states can effectively bring them down.”
LEGAL BASIS
The bill rests on a well-established legal principle known as the anti-commandeering doctrine. Simply put, the federal government cannot force states to help implement or enforce any federal act or program. The anti-commandeering doctrine is based primarily on four Supreme Court cases dating back to 1842. Printz v. US serves as the cornerstone.
“We held in New York that Congress cannot compel the States to enact or enforce a federal regulatory program. Today we hold that Congress cannot circumvent that prohibition by conscripting the States’ officers directly. The Federal Government may neither issue directives requiring the States to address particular problems, nor command the States’ officers, or those of their political subdivisions, to administer or enforce a federal regulatory program. It matters not whether policy making is involved, and no case by case weighing of the burdens or benefits is necessary; such commands are fundamentally incompatible with our constitutional system of dual sovereignty.”
WHAT’S NEXT
HB782 will now move on to the full House for further consideration.
“Call your state legislator and ask them to pass HB782 and SB2441,” said Vechorik. “Legislators who vote no on these bills are out of touch on Second Amendment Rights. My group, Mississippi for Liberty, will remind voters of that at election time. When it comes to protecting fundamental constitutional rights, we have a long memory.”
TAKE ACTION IN SUPPORT
In Mississippi, follow all the steps to support this legislation at THIS LINK
All other states, contact your state legislator and encourage them to introduce similar legislation to stop federal gun control at this link.
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