Category: Government

ND: Burgum designates North Dakota as a ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary State,’ signs bills protecting gun rights

Gov. Doug Burgum on April 26, signed a proclamation designating North Dakota as a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State,” reinforcing the state’s support for the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

Burgum signed the proclamation during a ceremonial signing with legislators for several bills approved this session to protect the rights of North Dakotans to possess and carry firearms.

“Both the U.S. Constitution and North Dakota Constitution recognize our citizens’ inalienable right to keep and bear arms, and designating North Dakota as a Second Amendment Sanctuary State sends a strong message to Congress and the White House that we will firmly resist any attempts to infringe on those rights,” Burgum said. “We are deeply grateful to all of the legislators who sponsored and supported these bills and worked to strengthen North Dakota’s commitment to the Second Amendment.”

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Unwritten firearm policies under the gun as Gov. DeSantis signs preemption bill

Republicans hope local governments think twice about abridging gun rights.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a measure to crack down on local governments creating gun control measures.

Lawmakers last week passed a bill (SB 1884) clarifying that existing preemptions on local firearm and ammunition laws also apply to unwritten rules and policies. The proposal, which the Legislature formally sent to the Governor earlier in the day, will also make clear local governments can’t bypass court cases simply by scrapping gun laws.

State law expressly prohibits a local government from creating an “ordinance, regulation, measure, directive, rule, enactment, order or policy” relating to guns that is more restrictive than state law. The broad list was intended to show it includes unwritten policies, but some courts have sided with cities and counties on unwritten rules.

Rep. Cord Byrd, a Neptune Beach Republican who has carried the issue in the House, said the Legislature needs to shore up the law because of defiant local officials. He cited multiple examples just this year of local governments passing ordinances despite preemption laws in place since 1987. It’s the same reason in 2011 that the Legislature put in penalties for local officials who vote for local ordinances regardless of state law.

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Kansas lowers concealed gun carry age to 18 as Legislature overrides Gov. Laura Kelly veto

The Kansas Legislature on Monday overturned Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of a bill lowering the minimum age to carry a concealed weapon in the state from 21 to 18.

After less than five minutes of debate, House Republicans pieced together the 84 votes needed to override Kelly’s veto of House Bill 2058, which allows persons 18, 19 and 20 to get a concealed carry permit.

The bill also makes it easier in some cases for felons convicted of violent crimes to reacquire their rights to possess and carry firearms.

The override later passed 31-8 in the Senate, where the outcome was never in doubt.

Although she proclaims herself a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, Kelly cited on-campus carry at state colleges and universities as her primary reason for rejecting HB2058.

“We can respect and defend the rights of Kansas gun owners while also taking effective steps to keep our children and families safe,” she said in her veto message “Legislation that allows more guns on campus is neither safe nor effective, and it will drive prospective students away from our schools.”

Rep. John Barker, R-Abiline, carried the veto measure on the House floor and questioned Kelly’s commitment to gun rights.

“The governor in her message indicated that she has always supported the Second Amendment. Well, I find that hard to believe sometimes, because we already have 18-year-olds that can carry a gun (openly) in the state of Kansas,” Barker said. “This requires them, if they’re going to carry a concealed weapon, to get training and to get a permit and to have a background investigation.

“I think that’s a positive move. Any time people can get training, that’s a good thing.”

He said the law started out as a way for Kansas to honor out-of-state concealed-carry permits, including those from states that already allow 18-20 year olds to carry. “So they would be able to carry in the state, yet a Kansas resident would not be able to carry at that age,” he said…….

Idaho Becomes First State to Ban Discriminatory Critical Race Theory

When Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) signed HB 377 into law this week, he made Idaho the first state in the country to ban its public educators from forcing the damaging ideology that underlies critical race theory on students.

The law’s objective is simple and should be noncontroversial, but the current state of education in America that begs action to prevent discrimination and protect intellectual freedom means Idaho’s anti-indoctrination measure is somewhat of a novel idea.

As the law explains, the principles of critical race theory “exacerbate and inflame divisions on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, or other criteria in ways contrary to the unity of the nation and the well-being of the state of Idaho and its citizens.”

Simply put, those who advance critical race theory are attempting to institutionalize racism by teaching the next generation that certain individuals and their ideas are more valuable than others simply because of the color of their skin or the things they believe.

To prevent this in Idaho’s public schools, Republican leaders have enacted a prohibition against students being forced to adopt the key tenets critical race theory’s proponents use to inflict their damaging goals.

“No public institution of higher education, school district, or public school, including a public charter school, shall direct or otherwise compel students to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to any of the following tenets: That any sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin is inherently superior or inferior; That individuals should be adversely treated on the basis of their sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin; or That individuals, by virtue of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin, are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin.”

Critical race theory’s nefarious aims undermine the foundation of American freedom and our long-running work to create a more perfect union. To follow the Left’s direction and teach students their appearance—rather than their individual actions—determines their rights and value is to return to the very bigotry the Left claims to oppose.

Idaho’s bill protects the critical American principle that all life is inherently valuable and created with the same inalienable rights as everyone else. It’s a principle that we, as a country run by fallible people, have not always lived up to, but it’s one we’ve always strived for. Certainly, schools should not follow the Left’s attempts to institutionalize critical race theory. To do so would be to run in the opposite direction and undo the progress our country has made.

Census: TX Gains 2 House Seats, CA, NY Lose One As US Political Map Is Redrawn.

The first set of results from the 2020 census are in, and reveal that the red state of Texas is set to gain two House seats, while California and New York will each lose one. This will bring the red state of Texas to a total of 38 seats and 40 electoral college votes – the 2nd highest behind California.

Also gaining seats are Colorado, Florida, Montana, Oregon and North Carolina, while states losing House seats also include Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The states which gained seats are largely those won by former President Donald Trump in 2020, while states which Biden won during the election are “losers” according to Bloomberg.

And because the Electoral College factors in House representation, those states will lose influence in the 2024 presidential vote.

There is one bright spot for Democrats, as demographic changes also mean that Republican strongholds such as Texas are becoming more Democratic, putting the party closer to its long-term goal of someday moving the Lone Star state out of the Republican column.

According to the Census Bureau, the US population grew by 7.4% over the past decade to a total of 331,449,281 people.

The constitutionally mandated count of all people living in the US was delayed due to the Trump administration’s unsuccessful efforts to remove undocumented immigrants from the count, which would have likely increased the number of GOP-held districts in the next Congress.

The Census Bureau announced the first installment of figures during a 3PM Monday press conference. More detailed data on demographics will be released Aug. 16. It will show the growth in various population centers which will guide states in redrawing congressional district maps.

Montana Gov Is Latest to Sign State Bill Nullifying Federal Gun Restrictions

Gov. Greg Gianforte on Friday signed a bill that prohibits state and local law enforcement in Montana from enforcing federal bans on firearms, ammunition and magazines.

Supporters of the law have said it would protect the Second Amendment from stiffer gun control laws that could come from federal legislation or executive orders by President Joe Biden in the wake of several mass shootings that took place this year, including a shooting last week that killed eight people in Indianapolis.

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OKLAHOMA PASSES SECOND AMENDMENT SANCTUARY STATE ACT

The Oklahoma House of Representatives just passed Senate Bill (SB 631) the “Second Amendment Sanctuary Act“ yesterday afternoon (04-20-21). Across the country more and more states are introducing legislation to uphold the 2nd Amendment and refuse any additional gun control measures from Federal, state, county and even local governments. This would mean that the state of Oklahoma wouldn’t adhere to, or enforce, any new gun control measures such as bans, buy backs, capacity limits or other restrictions that may be introduced in the future. This would include both legislation as well as executive orders. 

(SB 631) will now head to Governor Kevin Stitt’s desk for final approval and signature. Chances are better than good that the Governor will sign it and Oklahoma will join the ever growing list of states who have proclaimed themselves as Second Amendment Sanctuaries and have passed similar legislation. There was a rally yesterday (04-20-21) at the state capitol as pro Second Amendment supporters gathered to celebrate and show their appreciation to our state lawmakers for passing the bill. (SB 631) is just one of many bills Oklahoma legislators are working on to protect and uphold the citizen’s right to keep and bear arms. There’s lot of misinformation about the new bill and what it does. Here’s a quick look at what SB 631 says:

SECTION 2 (A) “The State Legislature hereby occupies and preempts the entire field of legislation by the federal government, any agency of this state or any political subdivision in this state to infringe upon the rights of a citizen of the State of Oklahoma, the unalienable right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed to them by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

SECTION 2 (B) Any federal, state, county or municipal act, law, executive order, administrative order, court order, rule, policy or regulation ordering the buy-back, confiscation or surrender of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition from law-abiding citizens of this state shall be considered an infringement on the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and Article II, Section 26 of the Constitution of Oklahoma.”

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3/4 of States Are Now Stand Your Ground; only 12 Are Duty to Retreat

I wrote about this several months ago, but several states have gone stand-your-ground since then—Ohio, Arkansas, and now North Dakota—so I thought I’d repeat it.

[A.] The “duty to retreat” is something of a misnomer (though a very common one); it’s not actually a legally binding duty (the way a parent has a duty to support a minor child, or a driver has a duty to exercise reasonable care while driving). Rather, it’s a provision that, under certain circumstances, failing to retreat from a confrontation will effectively strip you of your right to use deadly force for self-defense.

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This is the only state now that restricts permitless carry for only state residents. While changing the residency requirement from 1 year to 30 days is good; better would be for all citizens, state resident or not.

North Dakota: Pro-Gun Measures Passed out of Legislature and Sent to Governor’s Desk

[Friday] House Bill 1293 and House Bill 1297 were passed on a concurrence vote from the House, and will now be sent to the desk of Governor Doug Burgum for his signature. Please contact Governor Burgum and ask him to sign these important measures into law.

House Bill 1293 expands the list of firearms that an individual can carry in their vehicle under North Dakota’s Constitutional Carry law. HB 1293 also removes the restrictions on certain times of the day when one can open carry, and reduces the residency requirement for Constitutional Carry from one year to 30 days.

House Bill 1297 expands the list of locations that law-abiding gun owners can carry a concealed firearm for self-defense. HB 1293 clarifies that athletic events are only a prohibited location if they are “school” sporting events. Further, the measure allows for concealed carry in churches if the church has adopted a policy to allow it instead of previously having to obtain specific permission from the preacher or counsel.

 Gov. Ricketts Declares Nebraska a ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary State.’

Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a proclamation that designates his state as a “Second Amendment Sanctuary State,” reaffirming the state’s support for gun rights.

“Nebraska has always been a state that has supported our Second Amendment rights,” Ricketts said, according to a video of the signing event. “As a symbol of that support, I am signing a proclamation declaring Nebraska a Second Amendment Sanctuary State, and with my signature, it will become official.”

A number of counties in the state have already declared themselves Second Amendment “sanctuaries.”

The move comes in light of recent federal gun-control proposals and orders following several mass shootings.

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Governor Gordon Stands Up for Second Amendment, Signs Firearms Industry Non-Discrimination Act

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (Release) – Reinforcing his overarching belief in protecting Second Amendment rights in the face of today’s Executive Actions by President Biden, Governor Mark Gordon signed House Bill 236/House Enrolled Act 87- Firearms transactions – financial discrimination into law. The bill prohibits financial institutions and payment processors in Wyoming from discriminating against firearms businesses that support or are “engaged in the lawful commerce of firearms, firearm accessories or ammunition products.”

“Wyoming is,  has always been, and will continue to be a state where Second Amendment rights are recognized and protected. I oppose any orders or actions imposed from  the federal level that infringe on this fundamental right,” Governor Gordon said. “I will relentlessly defend our  Second Amendment and the Wyoming businesses involved in the firearms industry.”

Earlier this week Governor Gordon signed two other pieces of firearms-related legislation. First, Governor Gordon signed Senate File 155/Senate Enrolled Act 40. That legislation ensures that during emergencies the government cannot impose improper restrictions on Wyoming citizens’ lawful access to firearms. This is the way the Governor handled the COVID-19 emergency earlier this year.  He appreciated the Legislature developing a bill that backed up his approach.

The Governor also signed House Bill 116/House Enrolled Act 70, which extended permit-less carry in Wyoming to all law-abiding Americans. Wyoming was one of the first states to recognize the right to carry without a permit for its citizens, and the bill extends the same privilege to all legal gun owners who otherwise legally qualify to carry a firearm in the state.

Ducey signs ‘Second Amendment sanctuary’ bill

Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill Tuesday evening that makes Arizona a “Second Amendment sanctuary” and bars law enforcement agencies in the Grand Canyon State from enforcing federal gun control measures, ignoring a last-minute plea from gun control groups urging him to veto it. 

“We want him to know that his constituents don’t agree with this,” Sophia Carrillo, a volunteer with gun safety group Moms Demand Action said to Arizona Mirror Tuesday morning after the group delivered nearly 2,500 signatures urging him to veto the bill. 

Moms Demand Action collected 2,485 signatures which they delivered to Ducey’s office Tuesdaymorning in the hopes that it will persuade the governor to veto House Bill 2111. 

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Leo Biasiucci, R-Lake Havasu, makes it illegal for local governments, the state and employees to enforce or cooperate with any federal law, act, treaty, rule or regulation that is “inconsistent with any law of this state regarding the regulation of firearms.” 

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Juveniles don’t have the mental development to make such decisions.
Not that those who have reached the age of majority who want this have a fully developed adult mentality either.

Arkansas Legislature Overrides Governor’s Veto, Bans Gender-Transition Surgery for Minors.

The Arkansas General Assembly voted Tuesday to enact a ban on gender transition surgery for minors, overriding a veto by Governor Asa Hutchinson.

Arkansas is the first state to ban transition surgery for minors, although similar legislation is under consideration in other states. The bill also prohibits doctors in Arkansas from administering hormones or puberty blockers to residents under age 18.

 

Hutchinson acknowledged on Monday that the General Assembly would likely override his veto, which state lawmakers can do with a simple majority vote.

However, Hutchinson said the bill “would put the state as the definitive oracle of medical care, overriding parents, patients, and health care experts,” adding that the legislation was an example of government “overreach.”

“Government under a conservative philosophy should be restrained,” Hutchinson said. “This is an example of where restraint is better than over-broad actions that interfere with important relationships in our society.”

Hutchinson’s veto came after South Dakota governor Kristi Noem vetoed a state bill that would have restricted girls’ sports at public schools to biological females. Noem said her veto stemmed from concerns over possible punitive measures from national organizations, such as the American Civil Liberties Union or the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

The South Dakota legislature will consider overriding Noem’s veto, which would require the support of two-thirds of state lawmakers.

Montana lawmakers advance bill to nullify federal gun bans

HELENA — A measure that would prohibit state and local law enforcement officials in Montana from enforcing federal bans on firearms, ammunition and magazines is nearing passage in the state Legislature just a week after President Joe Biden urged Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted Wednesday 30-20 in favor of the measure. They are set to vote on the bill for a third and final time this week before the bill heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte, who has not commented on whether he would sign the bill into law.

The bill would ban state employees from enforcing or implementing federal bans on firearms, magazines or ammunition………..

Arkansas senators declare federal gun laws null and void within state borders

Senate Bill 298 by Sen. Gary Stubblefield (R-Branch), the “Arkansas Sovereignty Act of 2021,” aims to stop every federal gun law at the Arkansas border. Anyone who has ever taken a United States civics class will recognize the unconstitutionality of the bill. Still, Arkansas senators passed the measure by a vote of 28-7, and it now heads to the House side to be voted on there. Should it pass, it would then go to the governor’s desk.

All acts, laws, orders, rules, and regulations of the United States Government, whether past, present, or future, that infringe on the people’s right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to 2the United States Constitution and Arkansas Constitution, Article 2, § 5, are invalid in this state, shall not be recognized by this state, are specifically rejected by this state, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this state…………….

 

Indiana mask mandate will end April 6, governor changes it to advisory

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Indiana’s mask mandate will end April 6, a decision that comes after mounting pressure from within his own Republican party.

Holcomb will join the leaders of six other states who have lifted mask mandates, a move that goes against the advice of the Centers for Disease Control, which still recommends masks to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

In other local news-

Texas COVID numbers decrease 17 days after mask, other restrictions lifted

Just over two weeks after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott lifted coronavirus mandates allowing businesses to operate at 100 percent capacity and made masks optional, the red state is still reporting decreases in cases and hospitalizations.

The governor championed his state’s success in a Friday night tweet saying, “Today Texas recorded the lowest 7-day COVID positivity rate since that data began being calculated: 5.43%.

Appears that ‘Neanderthal thinking’ is turning out pretty well.  But I doubt SloJoe will ever have anything to say about Texas’ success.

No Surge in COVID Two Weeks After Mask Mandate Lifted in Texas

After two weeks of lifting its mask mandate and allowing businesses to open at full capacity, Texas is not seeing a surge of new COVID-19 cases.

Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, issued an executive order (pdf) that went into effect on March 10 to loosen COVID-19 restrictions. Although the government’s statewide mask mandate was lifted, individual businesses were still able to “limit capacity” or impose mask mandates at their own choosing.

But in Austin and Travis County, residents 10 years or older still have to wear a mask outside their home after a district judge refused to grant Attorney General Ken Paxton a restraining order that would have ended a mask mandate enforced by Travis County and Austin city officials. The trial is set to take place on March 26.

Texas had been witnessing a downward trend in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations prior to Abbott’s announcement ending the restrictions.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) posted on Twitter yesterday that Texas saw a seven-day average decrease in the daily number of new cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.

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“Power tends to corrupt…”

This was late last year:
DeWine vetoes bill that would limit power of public health orders

This was yesterday afternoon:
General Assembly overrides DeWine veto on pandemic powers

Mar. 24—COLUMBUS — After months of threats, Gov. Mike DeWine’s fellow Republicans in the Ohio General Assembly on Wednesday handed him the first veto override of his administration.

Solely with Republican votes, the Senate voted 23-10 to force into law a bill limiting the power to quarantine individuals in the midst of a pandemic and limiting the life of states of emergency. It needed 20 votes.

The GOP-controlled House then voted 62-35 along party lines to do the same. It needed 60.

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S. Carolina senator suggests everyone be made militia member
A South Carolina senator has a proposal to make sure no federal law can ever seize guns

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A South Carolina senator has a proposal to make sure no federal law can ever seize guns — make everyone over 17 who can legally own a gun a member of a militia.

South Carolina’s constitution allows the governor to call up an “unorganized militia” of any “able bodied male citizens” between ages 18 and 45. State Sen. Tom Corbin’s proposal would automatically expand membership to everyone who is over 17 and could own a gun.

Supporters of the bill said if everyone is a member of a militia, then they all fall under the opening clause of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that starts “A well regulated Militia.” That way a federal law restricting weapons would not apply in South Carolina since almost all residents would be in the unorganized militia.

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