The Tennessee House of Representatives was in chaos after lawmakers passed a controversial gun bill, allowing teachers to conceal carry.
The post Tennessee House in Chaos After Passing Bill Allowing Teachers to Carry Concealed Guns: ‘Blood on Your Hands’ appeared first on Breitbart.
The Supreme Court will decide if the Biden-Garland Justice Department’s “Ghost Gun” Rule violates the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
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If those in federal office are willing to pay attention, the states are displaying the best—and the worst—of our republican form of government.
Every four years, American citizens get the opportunity to express their satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the direction of the country, endorse a policy agenda for the nation, and hold the occupant of the highest office in our federal government to account for his leadership or lack thereof.
But in the intervening years between what some treat as a national Rorschach test, lawmakers are the policymakers entrusted to express the will of the people.
Fifty laboratories of innovation provide Americans with the freedom to vote with their feet by living in states that reflect the priorities around which their pursuit of happiness seems most reliably cultivated. The states also provide an effective case study for varying policy initiatives upon which our federal government can rely for evidence-based decision-making for the nation.
As an example, the Tennessee General Assembly recently passed landmark legislation addressing the disturbing trend of debanking. Once signed by Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, this law will provide consumer protection by prohibiting big banks from canceling accounts based on the constitutionally protected freedoms of speech and religious exercise.
Applying to the largest financial institutions, those with at least $100 billion in assets, the law provides a road map for other states to follow. Since the federal government is where banks that are “too big to fail” look for taxpayer-funded bailouts, Congress should follow Tennessee’s lead as well.
Contrast this approach of protecting access to basic financial services regardless of ideology with the state of New York. The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard from the National Rifle Association, which is seeking to stop New York state officials from using political power to coerce banks, insurers, and other service providers to refuse service to the Second Amendment advocacy organization.
In Idaho, Gov. Brad Little, a Republican, signed HB 578, which will ensure that faith-based adoption and foster care providers are free to serve children in need and work with the state to find loving, forever homes for kids.
Meanwhile, next door in Oregon, Jessica Bates is prevented from adopting children because she won’t agree to the state’s demand that she promote gender ideology. Apparently, Bates doesn’t have a high enough “social credit score” to be deemed a worthy parent by the state.
Idaho simultaneously protects the right of conscience and promotes the best interests of children in need of loving homes, while Oregon prioritizes politics over people.
One might look at these polar-opposite expressions of policy preferences and despair of a nation plagued by irreconcilable differences. But to the federalists among us, these differences are not a bug but a feature of our system.
Our national political culture is divided, but no more so now than it was at our founding. Today we simply have divisions of 50 instead of the 13 that existed when our Constitution was adopted. Then, as now, life in the states can look drastically different across our internal borders.
From the beginning, these United States of America were a hodgepodge of varying ethnicities, religions, economies, and political beliefs. What united the states then can still unite them today—the recognition of our fundamental God-given rights and the implicit American compact to protect those rights for all, regardless of which direction the political winds may blow across a state or the nation.
If an executive or legislative branch of state or federal government, even with popular support, goes so far as to implement policy that conflicts with these fundamental rights, our judiciary is empowered to rein in the wayward whims of the democratic process. This ensures that our fundamental rights are recognized in all 50 states while allowing for policy differences on other matters.
American journalist H.L. Mencken once said: “Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.”
Thankfully, our Founders were keenly aware of the fallen nature of man, the seductive trappings of power, and thus the perils of pure democracy for the God-given rights of the individual. They had the foresight to give us, as Benjamin Franklin reportedly quipped, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
When our federal government is focused on protecting fundamental rights guaranteed to all by the Constitution’s principles while respecting the role and differences of the states, we improve our chances of “keeping it.”
The Daily Signal publishes a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Heritage Foundation.
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The Nevada Supreme Court on Thursday overturned a lower court ruling and upheld the state's ban on so-called "ghost guns."
The post Nevada Supreme Court Upholds Ban on So-Called ‘Ghost Guns’ appeared first on Breitbart.
Maine Senate Democrats wrapped up their legislative session by passing gun control in response to the October 25, 2023, Lewiston shooting.
The post Maine Democrats Pass Gun Control That Would Not Have Prevented Lewiston Shooting appeared first on Breitbart.
Colorado House Democrats passed "assault weapons" ban legislation Sunday to prohibit the sale of AR-15s and certain 9mm pistols.
The post Colorado House Democrats Pass Bill Banning AR-15s and 9mm Pistols with Threaded Barrels appeared first on Breitbart.
Californians are arming up for self-defense as the U.S. Border Patrol carries out street drop-offs of illegal immigrants in San Diego.
The post Californians Arming Up for Self-Defense as Illegals Flood into Cities appeared first on Breitbart.
At least 43 people were shot, seven of them fatally, during the weekend in Mayor Brandon Johnson's (D) Chicago.
The post At Least 43 Shot During Weekend in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Chicago appeared first on Breitbart.
A Syracuse police officer and an Onondaga County sheriff’s deputy were shot in Salina, New York, Sunday shortly before 9 p.m.
The post At Least Two Officers Shot in Heavily Gun-Controlled New York appeared first on Breitbart.
A report from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) indicates Americans own over 700 million ammunition magazines with a greater than ten-round capacity.
The post Report: Americans Own over 700 Million Ammo Mags with Greater Than 10-Round Capacity appeared first on Breitbart.
Eleven people were shot, one of them fatally, during a family get together Saturday night at around 9:30 p.m. in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood.
The post 10 Injured, 1 Killed, During Saturday Night Shooting in Mayor Johnson’s Chicago appeared first on Breitbart.
The Texan pointed out on Thursday that the ATF's new background check rule is occurring "under a law from Sen. John Cornyn."
The post The Texan: ATF Background Check Rule Occurring ‘Under a Law from Sen. John Cornyn’ appeared first on Breitbart.
President Joe Biden boasted Thursday morning as another executive gun control -- the ATF's expanded background check rule -- stood poised to take effect.
The post Biden Boasts over Latest Executive Gun Control Forcing Private Gun Sellers into Background Checks appeared first on Breitbart.
A proposed rule from the ATF will force private gun sellers to use the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to sell their guns.
The post ATF Rule Forces Background Check System into Private Gun Sales appeared first on Breitbart.
During an interview with Univision that took place last Wednesday and aired on Tuesday, President Joe Biden stated that he would consider taking further executive action on guns and criticized 2024 Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump because Trump “famously
The post Biden: I’ll Consider Further Unilateral Action on Guns, Can’t Believe Trump Said ‘No One’s Going to Touch Your Guns’ appeared first on Breitbart.
On Monday, Cowlitz County Superior Court Judge Gary Bashor found Washington state's "high capacity" magazine ban violated both the U.S. Constitution and Washington state's constitution.
The post Judge Finds Washington State ‘High Capacity’ Magazine Ban Unconstitutional appeared first on Breitbart.
President Donald Trump-endorsed congressional candidate Austin Theriault said on Breitbart News Saturday that he plans to exploit Rep. Jared Golden's (D-ME) anti-Second Amendment votes to flip Maine's second congressional district.
The post Trump-Endorsed NASCAR Driver Austin Theriault to Expose Maine Democrat Jared Golden’s Anti-Second Amendment Voting Record appeared first on Breitbart.
Democrats in Colorado's Senate passed legislation barring licensed concealed carry permit holders from being armed for self-defense in five new places on Wednesday.
The post Colorado Senate Democrats Pass Bill Barring Concealed Carry for Self-Defense in More Places appeared first on Breitbart.
Senate candidate Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) supports legislation that, if passed into law, would prohibit Arizonans from buying AR-15 rifles.
The post Democrat Ruben Gallego Would Prohibit Arizonans From Buying AR-15s appeared first on Breitbart.
Colorado Democrats are pushing an 11 percent excise tax on gun and ammunition sales, as well as numerous other California-style gun controls.
The post Colorado Democrats Pushing 11% Excise Firearms Tax, Other California Gun Controls appeared first on Breitbart.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) is pushing legislation to make it easier for gun owners in the state to have their firearms confiscated.
The post Maine Gov. Mills Pushes to Make it Easier to Have Firearms Confiscated appeared first on Breitbart.
President Joe Biden posted on X Thursday to brag about how many times he has circumvented Congress by securing gun control via executive action.
The post Biden Brags About How Many Times He Has Skirted Congress with Executive Gun Control appeared first on Breitbart.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) launched an investigation into the recently announced National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center.
The post Rep. Jim Jordan Launches Investigation into Biden Administration’s Red Flag Law Center appeared first on Breitbart.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed Democrat lawmakers' "assault weapons" ban on Tuesday, along with a number of other Democrat-backed gun controls.
The post Gov. Youngkin Vetoes Virginia Democrats’ ‘Assault Weapons’ Ban appeared first on Breitbart.
Thirteen Democrat Attorneys General wrote a letter to renowned gun maker Glock, noting Chicago's lawsuit against the company and expressing concern over "machine-gun Glocks."
The post 13 Democrat State Attorneys General Target Glock, Decry ‘Machine-Gun Glocks’ appeared first on Breitbart.
Felony assaults on NYC subways jumped 53 percent during 2023 compared to the same type of assaults during 2019, according to statistics.
The post Felony Assaults on Subway Jump 53 Percent in Gun-Controlled, Democrat-Run NYC appeared first on Breitbart.