The Tennessee Senate has voted 22-7 to approve their state’s version of the Firearms Freedom Act (“the Act”). It passed in the House 87-1 and now awaits the governor’s signature. Despite any misgivings he may have, Bredesen knows that the legislature has the votes to override a veto, as they did today with another gun bill. The Act will pass, with or without the governor’s blessing.
Tennesse now joins Montana, in which Governor Schweitzer signed the same bill on April 15. The Montana Act goes into effect October 1st. Then we’ll see the fireworks.
It’s is also making headway in Texas, Alaska, South Carolina and Minnesota.
In each state, the Firearms Freedom Act asserts the state’s sovereignty within its own borders and rejects Federal regulation over arms possessed within the borders of those states. Traditionally, the Federal government has justified such meddling via the Interstate Commerce Clause of the Constitution, as well as through 18 USC § 922. Continued...