Interesting bill in Montana, "Montana Firearms Freedom Act"

[BackBlast]

link - http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HB0246.htm

Summary: Act declares that firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition made in Montana - that never crosses the Montana border - are exempt from all Federal regulation based upon the commerce clause of the US Constitution. Declares it the duty of the Montana Attorney General to defend Montana citizens thus engaged against federal prosecution. Starting October 1st, 2009.

[Buckaroo]

Another good reason to move to MT! Not that I need any more just need to get the timing right!

Maybe this will become a national trend

Buckaroo

[joffe]

It's been introduced before to no effect.

And besides, if by chance it passed, would the ATF care? They don't respect the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution in general, private property, or laws against murder and reckless endangerment.. Why should they care about a state statute?

[thopkins22]

And besides, if by chance it passed, would the ATF care? They don't respect the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution in general, private property, or laws against murder and reckless endangerment.. Why should they care about a state statute?

They don't and this won't change their minds. There are a bunch of states with medical marijuana laws...but the DEA still operates in them. I don't know enough about it to know whether they declare it the duty of the state to defend their citizens from federal prosecution though.

Even if it doesn't make any difference at all, it's good to hear that the states aren't in lockstep with the federal govt. A good sign for freedom.

[03humpalot]

[ToddG]

And besides, if by chance it passed, would the ATF care? They don't respect the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution in general, private property, or laws against murder and reckless endangerment.. Why should they care about a state statute?

That's an absolutely asinine thing to say. I've dealt with dozens and dozens of ATF personnel and count quite a few among my friends ... most of whom are shooting buddies.

I'm willing to bet the average ATF agent has infinitely more training and understanding of the U.S. Constitution than you do.

[John_Wayne777]

link - http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HB0246.htm

Summary: Act declares that firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition made in Montana - that never crosses the Montana border - are exempt from all Federal regulation based upon the commerce clause of the US Constitution. Declares it the duty of the Montana Attorney General to defend Montana citizens thus engaged against federal prosecution. Starting October 1st, 2009.

Good luck with that, Montana.

The USSC opened ISC to mean anything Congress wanted it to mean long, long ago. If the raw materials aren't mined and processed in Montana and turned into parts in Montana before being assembled into weapons in Montana, then ISC applies.

If the product could even affect the market for weapons in any way, ISC applies.

[thopkins22]

I'm willing to bet the average ATF agent has infinitely more training and understanding of the U.S. Constitution than you do.

Sure, but I don't think that equals respect for it. The constitution as it's so clearly written doesn't allow for anything the ATF does. The constitution as it's been interpreted by hateful judges does apparently.

Alcohol prohibition was wrong in so many ways, but at least they had the common courtesy to change the constitution to accommodate their actions. When have they done that regarding firearms or tobacco? And for that matter how do they justify dealing in alcohol without the 18th?

I don't doubt that there are plenty(most?) of ATF agents that are good guys etc...but they're part of a system that demands big government and a reduction of liberty. I don't think the argument(at least on this board,) is ever that the agents themselves are bad/corrupt/or hate freedom. But the ATF as an agency certainly does.

I feel no differently towards the USDA or any other silly federal bureaucracy.

[CarlosDJackal]

I'm willing to bet most of the rank-and-file ATF agent would have no problem abiding by this type of a law whether it's Federal or State. But I suspect that the ATF itself as an organization probably could care less.

While this Bill may or may not have some teeth; kudos to Montana for having the nads to even consider one. You never know just how things might play out. A State that has this type of a law has a better chance of maintaining their Citizenry's RKBA than a State that doesn't.

[mark5pt56]

There was acase some time ago to where the county sheriff made any federal agent get his approval before coming into his Montana county, don't recall the outcome.