So much for states rights
Not surprisingly, the notoriously anti-gun Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) has issued a letter declaring that Tennessee’s new “Tennessee’s Firearms Freedom Act” is null and void.
I’ve written about the Firearms Freedom Acts previously. Basically, they allow an in-state firearms manufacturers to sell firearms to state residents without jumping through the ridiculous government mandated Brady Background checks.
The Tennessee Firearms Freedom Act was passed and signed into law on June 19, 2009.
From the BATFE’s letter:
Unfortunately, this decree comes as no surprise. As I have mentioned before, the real test for these laws will come from legal challenges.
From an earlier post of mine:The difficulty with these sort of legal cases is finding willing participants. Should a firearms manufacturer sell a firearm to a citizen without jumping through the appropriate Federal hurdles, both would be arrested by the notoriously anti-gun Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE).All we need to do now is to find a Federal Firearms Licensee and a gun purchaser willing to go to spend thousands on legal fees and potentially spend some time in jail.
A protracted and lengthy legal battle would ensue, which in all likelihood would bankrupt both the manufacturer and the purchasing citizen, long before the case ever reached the Supreme Court. In addition to the legal concerns, the BATFE has a long history of despicable persecution of gun owners.
I am very excited about the pro-freedom and pro-Constitution movement that we see taking shape. However, I am worried that these laws may become largely symbolic.
Apparently there are now 4 branches of government. The Bureaucracy Branch now has the power to strike down state legislation, to advance the agenda of the Federal Government. Checks and balances, as it were.
if so!
