opinion

Arizona legislator wants to outlaw federal gun laws

It appears the Arizona Legislature may be preparing to go to war with the federal government.

Again, that is.

The Senate Federalism, Mandates and Fiscal Responsibility Committee will hear a bill at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to outlaw enforcement of federal gun laws in Arizona.

Specifically, it would declare "invalid and void" any gun law or regulation that violates the Second Amendment.

Of course, if the courts declare that a law or regulation violates the Second Amendment, it's already "invalid and void" -- not only in Arizona but across the nation.

But this is the Arizona Legislature, where logic long ago went AWOL.

Besides, we haven't had a good (read: expensive) court fight with the feds in what ... weeks?

That could be about to change.

Sen. Kelli Ward, R-Lake Havasu City, has long been on the front lines in Arizona's grand and glorious battle against federal tyranny. (Except, I'm going to guess, when federal tyranny suits us. See: federal law outlawing recreational use of marijuana.)

Two years ago, she tried to outlaw all federal gun laws in Arizona, making it a felony for any federal employee, judge and even jurors to enforce those laws in Arizona. Under that bill, federally licensed firearms dealers would have been barred from undertaking such nefarious activities as conducting criminal-background checks on people who buy AR-15s and such.

Last year, she took aim at the National Security Agency, hoping to bar the state and local governments from assisting the spy agency unless ordered to do so by the courts.

Now comes, Senate Bill 1330, declaring that no longer will the sovereign state of Arizona be bound by the long and exceedingly oppressive arm of the federal government. At least, not when it comes to the Second Amendment.

"All federal acts, laws, orders, rules and regulations that are in violation of the second amendment of the United States Constitution, that are unauthorized by the Constitution and that violate the second amendment's true meaning and intent as given by the founders and ratifiers of the United States Constitution are invalid and void in this state," her bill says.

Ward didn't immediately return a call to explain who would decide which laws "violate the second amendment's true meaning and intent as given by the founders and ratifiers" of the Constitution. My guess is, she means the Arizona Legislature.

Her bill also doesn't explain which federal acts, laws, orders, rules and regulations she's particularly finds unconstitutional. My guess is, she means all of them.

Ward's bill would bar state and local governments from enforcing any federal firearms law "that relates to a personal firearm, firearm accessory or ammunition within the limits of this state."

It also would be illegal for any employee of state or local government or any company that provides government services to provide assistance "in any form" to federal officers seeking to enforce said federal firearms laws. Do so and you would not only lose your job, you'd be really, really, really sorry.

"Any agent or employee of this state or any political subdivision of this state who knowingly violates this section is deemed to have resigned any commission from this state that the person may possess, the person's office is deemed vacant and the person is forever after ineligible to hold any office of trust, honor or emolument under the laws of this state."

Goodness.