Harwood proposes ‘Firearm Freedom Act’
Idaho would declare that any gun or ammunition manufactured in the state doesn't have to be registered and is exempt from all federal laws and regulations, under legislation introduced at the request of Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, this morning. "This is a state sovereignty issue," Harwood told the House State Affairs Committee. "What it's trying to do is create a court challenge in the federal courts to Commerce Clause powers, is what it basically does ... saying we as a state need to be able to control our own commerce within our state."
Harwood said Montana and Tennessee already have passed similar laws and they're being challenged in court. "If they could get 25 states, which looks like, if they could all pass their bill, the Supreme Court would take a look at this commerce power again," he said. The committee agreed on a voice vote, with a couple of objections, to introduce the bill. "I think this is, from my review of it ... a piece of legislation that certainly deserves a full hearing," said Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake.