Nullify Federal Gun Control in New Hampshire

Members of the New Hampshire General Court are seeking to pass legislation that would nullify unconstitutional federal gun control and protect the God-given self-defense rights of New Hampshire residents. Legislators must pass strong legislation and reject every attempt to weaken it.

House Bill 474 (HB 474) is sponsored by Representative Tom Mannion (R-Pelham).

HB 474 gives a list of policies, which might be contained in “federal acts, laws, executive orders, administrative orders, court orders, rules, and regulations” that violate the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment and Part 1, Article 2-a, of the New Hampshire Constitution. These include any tax that might discourage firearm purchases or ownership; gun confiscation laws; laws that prohibit law-abiding individuals to own, use, or transfer firearms; and laws mandating the tracking and registration of firearms, gun owners, gun accessories, or ammunition.

Importantly, HB 474 nullifies past, present, and future unconstitutional firearm restrictions. Additionally, while the bill does not name any specific federal laws, the 1934 National Firearms Act and the 1968 Gun Control Act would effectively be included among the laws nullified.

The rest of the bill primarily ensures that government officials at the state and local levels do not enforce the listed unconstitutional federal gun control policies and provides citizens with a means of redress if their self-defense rights are violated.

Additionally, House Bill 512 (HB 512) has been introduced. This bill is sponsored by Representatives Jason Gerhard (R-Franklin) and Jason Janvrin (R-Rockingham).

If enacted, HB 512 would nullify any “federal law or taxation, or federal regulation, including registration,” for any “firearm, … firearm accessory, or ammunition that is manufactured in New Hampshire,” and, by extension, where the Interstate Commerce Clause could not be used as an excuse for regulation.

Last, but not least, House Bill 305 (HB 305) is sponsored by Rep. Mannion. If enacted, HB 305 would remove a loophole included in a previously-passed nullification law that made it largely ineffective.

Importance

HB 474, HB 512, and HB 305 are excellent applications of Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, which states “[t]his Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof … shall be the supreme Law of the Land.”

Since the various forms of infringement outlined in this bill violate the U.S. Constitution, they cannot be considered “made in Pursuance thereof” and, thus, are not “the supreme Law of the Land.” Unfortunately, in the last several decades, thousands of unconstitutional laws on the federal, state, and even local levels have been created and enforced.

Because of this, it is important that officials at all levels of government begin to push back against this lawless regime and robustly enforce the Constitution and only those laws “made in Pursuance thereof.” HB 474, HB 512, and HB 305 are excellent models for other states to follow.

Urge your state representatives and senator to support HB 474, HB 512, and HB 305, and to push back against all other unconstitutional laws at every level of government.