Utah legislators eye Montana gun law
May 4th, 2009 @ 8:05am
By Andrew Adams
SALT LAKE CITY – Utah lawmakers are considering following Montana’s lead and claiming state’s rights in the war over gun control.
The Montana Legislature passed and its governor signed into law a measure making guns that are made and kept within state boundaries exempt from federal regulations. That means they’re exempt from things like background checks, licensing and registration.
Several Utah lawmakers want to do the same thing here. They say President Barack Obama and the Congress are anti-gun and will infringe on states’ rights.
Rep. Carl Wimmer, R-Herriman, tells the Salt Lake Tribune he or another Utah lawmaker will introduce a similar measure next year.
Rep. Ken Sumsion, R-American Fork, told the Tribune he wishes he’d thought of it and would support such a measure “in a heartbeat.”
But some legislators, like Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck, D-Salt Lake City, have reservations. They say Montana’s law is expected to face legal challenges and they don’t want the same thing to happen in Utah.
Texas is doing this as we speak. I honestly don’t think any of these will stand up in court but I like the shot across the bow in terms of states rights on issues such as these…
Exactly. These laws getting shot down in court could only make the movement STRONGER, and emphasize how the Federal Goverment continues to overstep its bounds.
I wonder if this is a preemptive strike coming from pressure of sportsmen / manufacturers / dealers, who are using AR15, etc in hunting and competitions? These states probably don’t want to see another federal AWB type law.
Or the big KY? I would absolutely whole heartedly support it in any state. Balkenization I thought was splitting states up into hostile entitys? Not them rallying ( so to speak) together? Not arguing at all, im too stoked about the outcome of all this:D:eek:. I would like to see more states probabley in the midwest start doing this. That way if the gov tried to over step their bounds it will be ever present in many states not just 1 or 2.
I am watching Glenn Beck and they are talking about the law passed by the Montana governor as well as legislation pending now in Utah and Texas. Some politicians are beginning to help restore my faith in them. It has been a long time coming and I hope that the federal gov’t does a reality check. I especially liked the comment by the gentleman from Utah. He bascially said that if the federal gov’t passes any gun control laws that conflict with what the state say then they will essentially ignore it.
I think some are realizing that there IS a market out there for politicans who genuinely favor the Constitution. There are a lot of us - not a majority, unfortunately - but a lot none the less.
As for the law being struck down in court - maybe the states will not care what the court says. When the court is simply an extension of the current policy, their verdict is not valid.
