No. We Shouldn’t Follow Every ‘Rule’

Quite frankly, I’m glad Rosa Parks refused to follow the rules. I’m glad the conductors and safe house operators along the Underground Railroad refused to follow the rules. I’m glad Oskar Schindler refused to follow the rules. Some rules should never be followed. Ever.

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Minnesota bills would ban cellphone tracking without a warrant

Two Minnesota bills that together ban law enforcement from obtaining cellphone location tracking information and data without a warrant passed its first committee hurdle. An Associated Press article reports, “On divided voice votes, the House Public Safety Committee advanced a pair of bills that impose a higher standard on law enforcement when they collect data…

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Obamacare and the Original Meaning of the Commerce Clause

Robert J. Pushaw (Pepperdine University – School of Law) has posted Obamacare and the Original Meaning of the Commerce Clause: Identifying Historical Limits on Congress’s Powers (University of Illinois Law Review, Vol. 2012, No. 1703, 2012) on SSRN.  Here is the abstract: Recently, Akhil Amar and Jack Balkin revived the idea that the exercise of unbridled Commerce…

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Louisiana Bill Would Nullify Part of the National Firearms Act of 1934

Current federal law requires that person register certain firearms under title 18 or title 26 of the United States Code. The proposed Louisiana state law provides that a Louisiana holder of a lifetime concealed handgun permit holder may possess certain firearms without complying with the provisions of Title 18 or 26 of the United States Code.

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A defining moment: Give me liberty or give me death!

In St. John’s Church, Henry made a bombastic speech in which he drew a stark line between liberty and tyranny. He ended his speech by announcing “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

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Maryland Marijuana Nullification Continues

Maryland isn’t only about crab cakes and football; it’s about nullification, too. Maryland’s House of Delegates overwhelmingly passed HB 1321, a bill that would nullify some federal drug laws and legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The bill allows those with debilitating medical conditions such as HIV, glaucoma, cancer, PTSD, and other disorders…

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Oklahoma Senate Passes Bill to Ban State Insurance Exchanges

A bill to ban creation of a state insurance exchange under the Affordable Health Care Act  was passed by the Oklahoma State Senate on this month by a 30-8 vote. SB1994 was introduced by Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-33) and Rep. John Echols (R-90) on Feb. 3. The bill would ban the state from participating in…

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Connecticut Legislature Taking Closer Look at Common Core

On February 11, 2014, The Connecticut House of Representatives Education Committee introduced HB 5078, “An Act Imposing a Moratorium on the Implementation of the Common Core State Standards.” On March 12, a public hearing on the issue packed a House committee chamber. The bill is co-sponsored by 18 Republican members of the House and seeks…

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New Idaho law effectively nullifies future federal gun control

Yesterday, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter signed a bill which would effectively nullify future federal gun laws by prohibiting state enforcement of any future federal act relating to personal firearms, a firearm accessories or ammunition.

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