Maryland Senate will Consider ‘Right to Try’ Bill to Nullify in Practice Some FDA Restrictions

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Nov. 4, 2015) – A Maryland bill scheduled for introduction in 2016 would set the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R-Pasadena) intends to file ‘Right to Try’ legislation for next year that would…

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Interview: States Defy the Federal Government

Today, I was a guest on the Tom Woods show to discuss our recently-released “State of the Nullification Movement Report.” Here’s what Tom had to say: It’s under the radar, but there’s been more state-level pushback against the federal government this year than at any time since the creation of the Tenth Amendment Center. Pushing…

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Debate Over Reforming Asset Forfeiture Laws in Tennessee Heats Up; Beware of Feds

NASHVILLE (Nov. 3, 2015) – Tennessee has joined the growing number of states considering reforming state asset forfeiture laws. Last week, the state Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the matter, and law enforcement lobbyists predictably showed up in force to defend their ability to “police for profit.” Current Tennessee asset forfeiture laws allow…

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Mike Huckabee Says Gun Dealers Should Refuse to Comply with Executive Orders on Background Checks

GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee recently urged gun dealers to nullify in effect any future presidential orders requiring firearms background checks. In a recent interview with Newsmax TV, Huckabee said gun dealers should simply refuse to cooperate with any executive order requiring new background checks. “The president can’t make law, he just can’t,” Huckabee said.…

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Does the Constitution Allow a Female President? Originalism Says Yes. Some Types of Nonoriginalism May Say No.

This might seem like an odd question, but a journalist recently asked me my opinion about the matter.  It turns out that Article II of the Constitution refers to the President as a him.  For example: “He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years.”  If this “he” meant only a male person,…

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Florida Bill Would Fully Decriminalize Marijuana; Effectively Nullify Federal Prohibition

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Nov. 2, 2015) – Two bills introduced in the Florida legislature would remove cannabis from the state’s schedule of controlled substances, thereby treating marijuana like any other plan under state law. The proposal would not only completely decriminalize marijuana in the Sunshine State, it would also take a big step toward nullifying federal cannabis…

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Wyoming Legislature Seeks to Reform State Asset Forfeiture Laws, Need to Beware of Feds

Wyoming legislators will take another stab at reforming the state’s asset forfeiture procedures during the 2016 session. But they need to be aware of a loophole that allows law enforcement to use the feds to skirt more stringent state laws. Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead (R) vetoed SF0014 in 2015. The bill would have required a…

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Gun Control and the Constitution: There are No Exceptions to “Shall Not Be Infringed”

I recently spoke with ‘The Dignitary’ Jacob Isbell about the constitutionality of federal gun control legislation. A couple of noteworthy takeaways: Not only does the Constitution NOT give the feds the power to regulate or restrict firearms, the 2nd Amendment expressly prohibits them from doing so! By passing the 2nd Amendment Preservation Act, state legislatures…

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Fighting the Federal Reserve’s War on Marijuana, Colorado Business Fights Back

In Colorado, a local credit union that provides financing for the fledgling marijuana industry is using the Tenth Amendment in its fight against discriminatory practices by the Federal Reserve. According to George Selgim at the Cato Institute, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City has refused to grant a master account to The Fourth Corner…

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The Federal Government Fails to Stop Federal Spying. Again

Federal courts once again failed to protect Americans from ubiquitous NSA spying. On Friday, US District Judge T.S. Ellis III dismissed a suit against the NSA brought by the ACLU on behalf of Wikimedia, the parent company that publishes Wikipedia. The judge held the company lacks standing to sue because it cannot definitively prove the…

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