LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Jan. 2, 2018) – In Nov. 2016, voters in California approved a ballot measure legalizing marijuana for general use by adults. Yesterday, that law went into effect, a big step toward nullifying the unconstitutional federal prohibition of cannabis in practice. With passage of Proposition 64, Californians who are 21 and older will be…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Dec. 29, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Illinois House would expand concealed carry reciprocity in the state and foster an environment more hostile to federal gun control. Rep. David Reis (R-Olney) introduced House Bill 4183 (HB4183) on Dec. 14. The legislation would expand conceal carry reciprocity by amending the Illinois Firearm…
While the federal government has some authority to regulate electricity flowing across state lines under the commerce clause, the federal government has seized much more power than it was legitimately delegated. As I reported earlier, on Sept. 28, 2017, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry proposed a new rulemaking to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).…
Local law enforcement agencies around the country are acquiring drones at a dizzying pace, often with financing from the federal government, asset forfeiture, and in some cases, private grants. According to a report released last spring by the Center for the Study of the Drone at Bard College, 347 local agencies in 43 states acquired…
MADISON, Wisc. (Dec. 27, 2017) – A bill filed in the Madison Senate would help facilitate healthcare freedom outside of government insurance regulatory schemes. A bipartisan coalition of 32 senators and representatives introduced Senate Bill 670 (SB670) on Dec. 21. The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical retainer agreements) do not constitute insurance, thereby…
Bundy arguments brought focus to three concerns: federal land within a sovereign state, the Constitution, and what is known as Jury Nullification.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Dec. 26, 2017) – A bill pre-filed in the Missouri House would legalize medical marijuana for qualifying patients in the state, setting the foundation to nullify unconstitutional federal cannabis prohibition in practice. Pre-filed for introduction by Rep. James Neely (R-Cameron) for the 2018 session of the Missouri legislature, House Bill 1554 (HB1554)…
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Dec. 26, 2017) – A bill prefiled in the Maryland House would require police to get a warrant before obtaining any information collected by “smart meter” technology. Passage of the bill would help protect privacy and ensure personal information doesn’t end up stored in federal databases. Del. Alfred Carr (D-18) prefiled House Bill…
It was Christmas Eve in 1798, and the Virginia House had already passed resolutions drafted by Madison three days earlier. Introduced by Thomas Jefferson's great friend John Taylor of Caroline, Madison's important draft also included the handiwork of Wilson Cary Nicholas.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Dec. 21, 2017) – A bill prefiled in the South Carolina House would reform the state’s asset forfeiture laws to minimize the policing for profit motive and would partially close a loophole that allows state and local police to circumvent more strict state forfeiture laws by passing cases off to the feds. Rep.…