ND Law Enforcement Drops Opposition To Bill Preventing Enforcement Of New Federal Gun Control Laws

This morning the House Judiciary Committee her testimony on HB1183. This was the bill introduced by Rep. Roscoe Streyle which would prevent North Dakota officials from enforcing any new federal gun control laws.

Law enforcement officials in the state had expressed some concern about the law – most notably Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney was vocally critical – but at the hearing today there was no testimony from law enforcement officials against the bill.

No doubt this is because of amendments to the bill which remove the penalty for state officials cooperating with federal law enforcement. Sheriff Laney was heard telling reporters that was the one part of the bill they opposed. Originally the bill would have made any official in violation of the law guilty of a Class A Misdemeanor.

But there is another amendment to the bill gun rights proponents may like. Bringing the legislation more in line with bills passed in Wyoming and Texas, an amendment offered by Rep. Bette Grande would make it illegal for the federal government to enforce any federal gun control laws on guns or ammunition manufactured in the state.

A legislator sent me this picture of Grande’s amendment (click for a larger view):