ND Legislature Better Get Their Crap Together on the Gun Issue

February 3, 2021 T. Arthur Mason North Dakota
House Majority Leader Chet Pollert (R - District 29) urges a vote on SB 2004. (Photo via screenshot.)

I’m not going to mince words here. The North Dakota Legislature — as a whole — needs to get their crap together when it comes to gun rights and nullification of federal overreach on the issue.

About two years ago, I authored an article in which I illustrated that the North Dakota Legislature isn’t as pro-gun as you might think. Now, don’t get me wrong, most of them think they are. But an analysis of past bills shows otherwise. (Note: There are examples beyond those in the aforementioned article.)

Last week, I published three articles about bills that are working their way through the current legislative session:

  1. Rep. Jeff Magrum’s “Stand Your Ground Law”. (HB 1193)
  2. Rep. Rick Becker’s prohibition on the state enforcing federal gun laws. (HB 1383)
  3. Rep. Luke Simons’ Sanctuary Gun State. (HB 1272)

What do each of these have in common? They’ve been defeated before.

It’s one thing to get kicked in the teeth on the issue of guns by a bunch progressives in Washington, DC. But it’s especially problematic when the folks in Bismarck — our political backyard — aren’t doing all they can to protect this fundamental right so many refer to as the Second Amendment.

I’ll take this moment to remind you that this is a Republican super-majority we’re talking about here. It nauseates me to even think about them betraying us on this vital issue.

The Biden/Harris gun control agenda has all the makings of being the most intrusive in our nation’s history. Are the folks in Bismarck even paying attention? Seriously. This isn’t a joke. It’s not hyperbole. Radical Democrats have the presidency and control both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.

If you doubt the seriousness of this, then perhaps you should take a look at HR 127— otherwise known as the “Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act”. It was introduced to the 117th Congress on January 4th. If passed, what would it do? Here’s the summary:

“The Attorney General, through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, shall establish a system for licensing the possession of firearms or ammunition in the United States, and for the registration with the Bureau of each firearm present in the United States.” (Emphasis Added)

Please, read the bill. Included in it are things like:

  • Firearm/ammunition registration.
  • Identifying where firearms are stored.
  • Identifying who firearms are loaned to.
  • A database of firearms that will be made public.
  • Background checks.
  • Psychological evaluations.
  • Training course requirements.
  • $800 insurance fees.

And more.

Penalties for any violations of the statute are insane. For example, if you are caught with .50 caliber ammunition, it would be a minimum $50,000 fine and 10 years in prison.

Are you seeing why bills like Rep. Becker’s and Rep. Simons’ are so important? If our own state lawmakers won’t push back against federal overreach from radical gun grabbers, then who will? Are they honestly satisfied to leave things as is— where state and local law enforcement would enforce federal overreach?

Undoubtedly, some will express the belief that the Supreme Court will rescue us. Really? Should we depend upon that? How many years will it take for cases to work their way through the courts? And in the meantime, how many will have their rights violated, be imprisoned, and have their lives ruined defending themselves?

For legislators who don’t have one already, it’s time they each grow this thing called a spine. After all, every blasted one of them swore an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of North Dakota. It’s time they live up to that promise. And if they don’t, we should replace them with people who will.

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Sources:

  1. https://theminutemanblog.com/2019/02/21/the-north-dakota-house-is-not-as-pro-gun-as-you-might-think/
  2. https://theminutemanblog.com/2021/01/27/stand-your-ground-bill-brings-heated-debate/
  3. https://theminutemanblog.com/2021/01/28/becker-takes-3rd-shot-at-limiting-enforcement-of-feds-gun-laws/
  4. https://theminutemanblog.com/2021/01/29/bill-to-make-nd-sanctuary-state-for-guns-gets-do-pass-in-committee/
  5. https://joebiden.com/gunsafety/
  6. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/127/text
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About T. Arthur Mason 883 Articles
T. Arthur Mason is a native North Dakotan who has spent nearly all of his life in the Peace Garden State. As the third of four children in Western North Dakota, Mason grew to appreciate family and the outdoors. Some of his fondest memories are annual deer hunts with family and friends. In his early teenage years, faith became a central part of T. Arthur Mason's life. He and the majority of his family attend church together on a weekly basis and find this a fulfilling aspect of their lives. Through the influence of his father, T. Arthur Mason became intrigued with politics. As a boy, he attended political events with his father and enjoyed the friendships that resulted as a byproduct of those political associations. As Mason grew older, he became convinced that the quote often attributed to Thomas Jefferson was true, "That government is best which governs least." Today, T. Arthur Mason enjoys time with his wife and children, an occasional hunt, and an increasingly active life on the political scene. This blog is the fulfillment of a dream to design a web site in the realm of politics and to advocate for the principles of Liberty and constitutionally limited government. On behalf of all those that contribute to The Minuteman, we hope you enjoy your time on the site and will share the message with others.

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