Rep. Mary Johnson Stellar in Defense of States’ Rights— Sanctuary Gun Bill Passes

February 18, 2021 T. Arthur Mason North Dakota
Rep. Mary Johnson (R - District 45) urges House colleagues to support HB 1272. The bill passed 69-23. (Photo via screenshot.)

Readers of The Minuteman are well aware of Rep. Luke Simons’ efforts to make North Dakota a Sanctuary State for Guns (HB 1272). I’ve written about it a number of times. Well, today that bill passed the House on a vote of 69 to 23— thanks in no small part to the stellar floor speech of Rep. Mary Johnson (R – District 45).

Leading up to today’s debate, there was speculation that Rep. Simons’ bill would be killed on the floor— after getting an 11-3 Do Pass recommendation from the House Industry, Business, and Labor Committee.

Leading the charge against the opposition to the bill was Rep. Johnson. It was impressive. As you can see here in her remarks, Johnson referred to HB 1272 as “one of the more significant bills I’ve witnessed in my time here”. For her, the bill has more to do with states’ rights in relation to Interstate Commerce than it does about the Second Amendment. And her defense of that position was stellar. Give it a listen.

Rep. Johnson wasn’t the only one to impress. Rep. Simons channeled his inner Patrick Henry with a “Give me Liberty, or give me death!” sort of speech. It was spectacular. I strongly encourage you to listen to that one too.

And then there was Rep. Rick Becker (R – District 7), who put to rest concerns about Simons’ bill allowing the possession and sale of automatic weapons. He did that by simply proving that the North Dakota Century Code already prohibits such things.

The passionate, principled, and logical stands taken by Johnson, Simons, and Becker — in the face of opposition — likely saved this bill from defeat. But it was Rep. Mary Johnson who led that charge. And for that, every supporter of States’ Rights, Intra-state Commerce, and the Second Amendment should be grateful.

Now on to the Senate.

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Sources:

  1. North Dakota Bill Versions: HB 1272 (nd.gov)
  2. HB 1272 Archives – The Minuteman Blog
  3. North Dakota Legislative Branch Video (nd.gov)
  4. North Dakota Century Code t62.1c05 (nd.gov)
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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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