Recently, we have seen one Republican run state after another pass anti-abortion laws that clearly run counter to the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. Flush with their flaunting of federal abortion law, some of these same states have decided to take on other aspects of the U.S. Constitution.
Mississippi - The Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that powers not specifically reserved for the federal government are reserved for the states. Mississippi has decided to push the "not specifically reserved" envelope and is making plans to justify that the state of Mississippi should be left alone to decide which federal laws they'll follow and which ones they'll ignore.
Republican state Representatives Gary Chism and Jeff Smith have filed a bill designed to form a Joint Legislative Committee on the Neutralization of Federal Laws. They have the support of Governor Phil Bryant (R) who recently asked state legislators to find ways to block enforcement of any gun reform that originates with President Obama. The Central Mississippi Tea Party, which has expressed the desire for state lawmakers to "re-establish limited federal involvement in Mississippi" has also expressed support for Mr. Chism's and Mr. Smith's efforts.
Matt Steffey, a professor of constitutional law at Mississippi College had this to say: "It is hard to imagine a less productive use of time by key legislative officials than to pursue that which they have no power to pursue".
State Representative Steve Holland (D) said "It's awful. It is wrongheaded...It is political fodder for the right and borderline stupid".
My vote goes to Mr. Steffey and Mr. Holland on this one.
North Carolina - The United States of America is a country built on the separation of church and state; but North Carolina would like to make an exception for itself.
State Representatives Carl Ford (R) and Harry Warren (R) are sponsoring a bill that has been introduced to North Carolina's General Assembly that would allow the fine state of North Carolina to adopt an official, state religion.
The proposed law claims that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution--the one prohibiting Congress from passing laws in respect to establishing religions or prohibiting the exercise of religion in the U.S.--does not apply to states.
I guess North Carolina plans on joining Mississippi in ignoring the Tenth Amendment too.
And then there's Montana - where the state legislature wanted to ban any law prohibiting assault weapons. Yes, that's right. They wanted to pass a law that would specifically ban another law. Their own Department of Justice had to point out to these geniuses that you really can't pass a law banning another law--especially one that doesn't exist.
If the U.S. Congress ever manages to pass an assault weapon ban, Montana can join North Carolina and Mississippi in boycotting the U.S. Constitution.
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