by Thomas Craig

In another move by a State to reaffirm the constitutional rights granted by the 10th Amendment, Montana has recently announced that they will challenge the Federal Government's gun control regulation and policies.  The Montana Legislature passed a bill stating that guns which are manufactured, sold, and kept in Montana are exempt from federal background checks, registration laws, and dealer licensing issues.  Now there are not many guns which are actually manufactured in Montana, however, that is not the point.  The point is that the State of Montana, led by Gov. Schweitzer (to my surprise, a Democrat!!), wants to confirm the sovereignty of their State which is bestowed upon them by the U.S. Constitution.  Montana is completely justified in this action.  If a gun is created in Montana and it never leaves Montana, why should the Federal Government have any say over the matter when this clearly affects Montana and Montana alone.  If the gun at any point crosses State lines, then the Federal Government is clearly within its rights to regulate the process due to the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.  The Federal Government, of course, is challenging Montana on this, stating that they do have jurisdiction because guns can so easily be transported across State lines.  There in lies the scary truth.  The Federal Government wants control over every aspect of our lives and wants to keep the States in a position of constant charity and keep the Feds playing the role of the Nanny.  The Federal Government wants control over Montana's firearms because it is "possible" for the gun to at some point leave the State.  It is this sort of logic which led to the death of federalism and it needs to be confronted by every State.  Republicans know that local Government is better equipped to deal with local problems.  There is very little that the Federal Government is better equipped to deal with, and the creators of the Constitution recognized this.  Hopefully, one day we will return to the true ideals of the Constitution where the Federal Government knows its place and our Leaders in Washington choose to lead this Country to greatness instead of maintaining their Empire.

Leave a Reply