sailingaway
03-14-2013, 05:12 PM
After a vote of 28-21 in the state Senate on Wednesday, March 13, Montana is moving toward being the first state in the country to approve a bill prohibiting the enforcement of a potential federal ban on semiautomatic firearms and large-capacity magazines within its borders. The bill, HB 302, also calls for criminal penalties for any employee, official, or officer of either the state or federal government who enforces such a measure within Montana.
“I view this bill basically as pushback to the discussion in Washington, D.C.,” said state Sen. Jennifer Fielder (R-Thompson Falls). “It has come to the point where the people are saying enough is enough,” Fielder told the Missoulian.
House Bill 302, the “Montana Federal Semiautomatic Firearm and Large Magazine Ban Enforcement Prohibition Act,” passed the state House 56-42 on February 22. Because the original bill was amended by the Senate Judiciary Committee, both legislative chambers need to reconcile the two versions of the bill.
Once reconciled, the bill will be sent to the desk of Governor Steve Bullock, a Democrat. The governor has not taken a public position on the bill, which now awaits either his signature or veto. If Bullock signs the bill, Montana will be the first state to have officially nullified federal gun control, since the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Connecticut, last year.
On its website, the Tenth Amendment Center encourages residents of Montana to e-mail Governor Bullock or call him locally at 406-444-3111 or toll-free at 855-318-1330, to encourage him to sign HB 302.
The key portion of HB 302 reads:
A peace officer, state employee, or employee of any political subdivision is prohibited from enforcing, assisting in the enforcement of, or otherwise cooperating in the enforcement of a federal ban on semiautomatic weapons or large magazines and is also prohibited from participating in any federal enforcement action implementing a federal ban on semiautomatic weapons or large magazines.
Another portion of the bill declares that Montana may not use “public funds or allocate public resources for the enforcement of a federal ban on semiautomatic weapons or large magazines.” Violation of this section of the bill would be considered as an act theft, which is a misdemeanor under state law.
The previous day, the Montana House approved another bill 89-11, Senate Bill 145, which would require Montana concealed weapon permit information to be kept confidential. SB 145 already passed the state Senate 37-13 on January 31, 2013, and like HB 302 is also expected to go to Gov. Bullock’s desk.
more: http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/14775-montana-state-legislature-passes-gun-control-nullification-bill
“I view this bill basically as pushback to the discussion in Washington, D.C.,” said state Sen. Jennifer Fielder (R-Thompson Falls). “It has come to the point where the people are saying enough is enough,” Fielder told the Missoulian.
House Bill 302, the “Montana Federal Semiautomatic Firearm and Large Magazine Ban Enforcement Prohibition Act,” passed the state House 56-42 on February 22. Because the original bill was amended by the Senate Judiciary Committee, both legislative chambers need to reconcile the two versions of the bill.
Once reconciled, the bill will be sent to the desk of Governor Steve Bullock, a Democrat. The governor has not taken a public position on the bill, which now awaits either his signature or veto. If Bullock signs the bill, Montana will be the first state to have officially nullified federal gun control, since the horrific tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, in Newtown, Connecticut, last year.
On its website, the Tenth Amendment Center encourages residents of Montana to e-mail Governor Bullock or call him locally at 406-444-3111 or toll-free at 855-318-1330, to encourage him to sign HB 302.
The key portion of HB 302 reads:
A peace officer, state employee, or employee of any political subdivision is prohibited from enforcing, assisting in the enforcement of, or otherwise cooperating in the enforcement of a federal ban on semiautomatic weapons or large magazines and is also prohibited from participating in any federal enforcement action implementing a federal ban on semiautomatic weapons or large magazines.
Another portion of the bill declares that Montana may not use “public funds or allocate public resources for the enforcement of a federal ban on semiautomatic weapons or large magazines.” Violation of this section of the bill would be considered as an act theft, which is a misdemeanor under state law.
The previous day, the Montana House approved another bill 89-11, Senate Bill 145, which would require Montana concealed weapon permit information to be kept confidential. SB 145 already passed the state Senate 37-13 on January 31, 2013, and like HB 302 is also expected to go to Gov. Bullock’s desk.
more: http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/14775-montana-state-legislature-passes-gun-control-nullification-bill