COLUMBUS, Ohio (Nov. 15, 2023) – On Tuesday, an Ohio House committee passed a bill that would ban state and local enforcement of a wide range of federal gun control. Passage into law would represent a major step toward effectively ending federal acts that infringe on the right to keep and bear arms within the state.
Rep. Mike Loychik and Rep. Jean Schmidt introduced House Bill 51 (HB51) on Feb. 15 and the bill has undergone numerous revisions since. The “Second Amendment Preservation Act” would ban state and local law enforcement officers from enforcing, attempting to enforce, or participating in the enforcement of any federal acts, executive orders, administrative orders, rules, regulations, statutes, or ordinances regarding firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition that are not mirrored in state law.
On Tuesday, the House Government Oversight Committee passed HB51 by a 7-5 vote with no amendments to weaken the bill.
The bill passed despite intense opposition from what Chris Dorr of Ohio Gunowners described as “politicized law enforcement associations” and prosecuting attorneys.
“They were doing everything they could to lie about the bill, misconstrue the bill, paint the bill as anything other than what it is intended to be. It simply says Ohio cops cannot become Joe Biden’s enforcement brigade.”
Dorr said it’s ultimately about the money, and he pointed out that state and local law enforcement agencies benefit from the money that comes with partnering with the feds.
“That’s what they really represent — power, political power, and money, and a corrupt administration among these state law enforcement associations.”
Ohio Speaker of the House Jason Stephens has committed to bringing the bill to the House floor.
DETAILS OF THE LEGISLATION
In addition to banning state and local government employees, including law enforcement officers, from enforcing federal gun control not mirrored by state law, HB51 would also prohibit public officials from acceding to a request from another to give “material aid or support” to efforts to enforce the same. “Material aid or support” is defined as “voluntarily giving or allowing others to make use of lodging, communications equipment or services including social media accounts, facilities, weapons, personnel, transportation, clothing, or other physical assets.”
HB51 would remove all references to enforcing specific federal gun laws from Ohio statutes, including the “Gun Control Act of 1968,” and various sections of U.S. Code Title 18 that cover federal crimes. As Dorr explained, “Ohio law is written to reflect changes in federal law. That would be done away with.”
In practice, this would end state and local enforcement of a significant amount of gun control including President Trump’s bump-stock ban, along with President Biden’s executive orders regulating pistol braces and “80 percent lowers.”
Dorr specifically mentioned the pistol brace rules, saying they “would be done away with.”
Under the proposed law, the state of Ohio or any local government that employs a law enforcement officer who violates the law would be subject to a civil lawsuit and subject to a $50,000 penalty. Individuals would also have standing to sue for injunctive relief. Additionally, state and local government agencies would be subject to the same civil penalty for knowingly employing a former federal agent who knowingly violated the law.
The proposed law would allow public officers or employees of the state or a political subdivision of the state to request or accept aid from federal officials in an effort to enforce state laws by referring violent felony suspects for the prosecution of violations substantially similar to those found in state law “involving the use of a weapon, provided that such weapons violations are merely ancillary to that prosecution.” It would also allow “participating with federal law enforcement to enforce laws of the state or a political subdivision in any national integrated ballistic information network investigation or lead, or distributing such leads, whether or not through a crime gun intelligence center.” State and local law enforcement could also provide material aid or support to federal officials pursuing a suspect “when there is a demonstrable criminal nexus with another state or country and such suspect is either not a citizen of this state or is not present in this state.”
EFFECTIVE
The federal government relies heavily on state cooperation to implement and enforce almost all of its laws, regulations and acts – including gun control. By simply withdrawing this necessary cooperation, states and localities can nullify many federal actions in effect. As noted by the National Governors’ Association during the partial government shutdown of 2013, “states are partners with the federal government on most federal programs.”
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 state and local governments.
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.
“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, states and even local governments can help bring these unconstitutional acts to their much-needed end.”
LEGAL BASIS
The state of Ohio can legally bar state agents from enforcing federal gun control. Refusal to cooperate with federal enforcement 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 five Supreme Court cases dating back to 1842. Printz v. U.S. 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”
However, it’s important to note that no determination of constitutionality is necessary to invoke the anti-commandeering doctrine. State and local governments can refuse to enforce federal laws or implement federal programs for any reason they choose.
WHAT’S NEXT
HB51 will now move to the House floor for a vote.
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