montanadave
08-25-09, 07:13
I realize these stories regarding new legislation intended to test state's rights against federal jurisdiction predicated on the interstate commerce clause got a lot of coverage several months ago. For those still interested, here's a status report on Montana's gun law which was enacted this spring.
Group ready to test gun law
JENNIFER McKEE Gazette State Bureau | Posted: Monday, August 24, 2009 11:15 pm
HELENA - A prominent Montana gun rights group has partnered with a national organization to test federal authority over a new class of firearms: guns manufactured and used solely in the state of Montana.
The Montana Shooting Sports Association, with headquarters in Missoula, and the Second Amendment Foundation, of Bellevue, Wash., said Friday that they would file a federal lawsuit on Oct. 1 to prevent federal gun control laws from being enforced in Montana for guns made and used within the state boundaries.
"If a gun is made in Montana and stays in Montana, it isn't engaging in interstate commerce," said Alan Gottlieb, of the Second Amendment Foundation. "The federal government really should bug out."
At issue is the Montana Firearms Freedom Act, which passed the 2009 Legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. That law states that guns, ammunition and certain gun parts manufactured and used in Montana are not subject to federal gun laws.
The law goes into effect Oct. 1. Several other states are considering identical legislation, although only Tennessee has passed a similar law.
Currently, individuals and businesses that sell or manufacture most guns must have a federal license.
Gary Marbut, president of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, said that licensure is about control.
"Whenever there is licensure, there is control. That's the purpose of licensure," he said. "We don't think the source of those items that are essential to our Second Amendment freedoms should be controlled by the federal government."
Scot Thomasson, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, declined to comment for this article.
However, the agency sent letters to all federal gun license holders in the state last month. That letter stated that the Montana Firearm Freedom Act did not nullify federal gun regulations.
"All provisions of the Gun Control Act and the National Firearms Act and their corresponding regulations continue to apply," according to the letter, which was signed by Carson Carroll, assistant director of the ATF in Washington, D.C. "These, as well as other federal requirements and prohibitions continue to apply whether or not the firearms or ammunition has crossed state lines."
It is important that the guns and ammo not be used outside Montana, Gottlieb said. So far, the federal government has justified federal control over guns by citing the "interstate commerce clause," which states that the federal government can regulate commerce between the states.
But if a gun will not be leaving Montana, there is no "interstate commerce" and the federal government has no standing to enforce its laws, Gottlieb said.
Marbut said they're planning to file suit in Montana federal court the day the law goes into effect. He said he has received letters from Montanans interested in making their own guns, but they're not sure the new law will protect them from federal prison time.
Those people, Marbut said, are the "test case." He is anticipating the suit will seek to prevent the ATF from enforcing federal laws. Marbut said he didn't want any Montanans to have to go to federal prison to test the legal arguments behind Montana's Firearms Freedom Act.
In the meantime, he said, please don't make a gun.
"We are continuing to highly recommend to Montana people that nobody make one of these Montana devices until we can clarify these legal issues in court," he said. "We don't want some Montana citizens to face potential federal prison time."
The law states that the gun must be machined in Montana; people couldn't simply assemble a gun here from parts they bought outside the state.
Marbut said gun laws ought to be made and enforced by the states.
"We would prefer that if there's going to be regulation (of guns) that it done at the state level in a way that is consistent with our people and our culture in Montana," he said. "We don't need the kinds of regulation that New Jersey may need or that California may need."
Group ready to test gun law
JENNIFER McKEE Gazette State Bureau | Posted: Monday, August 24, 2009 11:15 pm
HELENA - A prominent Montana gun rights group has partnered with a national organization to test federal authority over a new class of firearms: guns manufactured and used solely in the state of Montana.
The Montana Shooting Sports Association, with headquarters in Missoula, and the Second Amendment Foundation, of Bellevue, Wash., said Friday that they would file a federal lawsuit on Oct. 1 to prevent federal gun control laws from being enforced in Montana for guns made and used within the state boundaries.
"If a gun is made in Montana and stays in Montana, it isn't engaging in interstate commerce," said Alan Gottlieb, of the Second Amendment Foundation. "The federal government really should bug out."
At issue is the Montana Firearms Freedom Act, which passed the 2009 Legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Brian Schweitzer. That law states that guns, ammunition and certain gun parts manufactured and used in Montana are not subject to federal gun laws.
The law goes into effect Oct. 1. Several other states are considering identical legislation, although only Tennessee has passed a similar law.
Currently, individuals and businesses that sell or manufacture most guns must have a federal license.
Gary Marbut, president of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, said that licensure is about control.
"Whenever there is licensure, there is control. That's the purpose of licensure," he said. "We don't think the source of those items that are essential to our Second Amendment freedoms should be controlled by the federal government."
Scot Thomasson, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, declined to comment for this article.
However, the agency sent letters to all federal gun license holders in the state last month. That letter stated that the Montana Firearm Freedom Act did not nullify federal gun regulations.
"All provisions of the Gun Control Act and the National Firearms Act and their corresponding regulations continue to apply," according to the letter, which was signed by Carson Carroll, assistant director of the ATF in Washington, D.C. "These, as well as other federal requirements and prohibitions continue to apply whether or not the firearms or ammunition has crossed state lines."
It is important that the guns and ammo not be used outside Montana, Gottlieb said. So far, the federal government has justified federal control over guns by citing the "interstate commerce clause," which states that the federal government can regulate commerce between the states.
But if a gun will not be leaving Montana, there is no "interstate commerce" and the federal government has no standing to enforce its laws, Gottlieb said.
Marbut said they're planning to file suit in Montana federal court the day the law goes into effect. He said he has received letters from Montanans interested in making their own guns, but they're not sure the new law will protect them from federal prison time.
Those people, Marbut said, are the "test case." He is anticipating the suit will seek to prevent the ATF from enforcing federal laws. Marbut said he didn't want any Montanans to have to go to federal prison to test the legal arguments behind Montana's Firearms Freedom Act.
In the meantime, he said, please don't make a gun.
"We are continuing to highly recommend to Montana people that nobody make one of these Montana devices until we can clarify these legal issues in court," he said. "We don't want some Montana citizens to face potential federal prison time."
The law states that the gun must be machined in Montana; people couldn't simply assemble a gun here from parts they bought outside the state.
Marbut said gun laws ought to be made and enforced by the states.
"We would prefer that if there's going to be regulation (of guns) that it done at the state level in a way that is consistent with our people and our culture in Montana," he said. "We don't need the kinds of regulation that New Jersey may need or that California may need."