The Gun Report: February 13, 2014

"In response to federal gun restrictions proposed after the Sandy Hook massacre, some states have adopted new laws under the banner of “gun nullification.” In Missouri on Tuesday, senators endorsed legislation that seeks to invalidate federal gun restrictions, and even send federal agents to jail for enforcing such laws. The measure will likely face a court challenge if it gets approved. The Democratic governor vetoed a similar measure that passed last year.

The concept of state nullification predates the Civil War; it was first used by South Carolina to invalidate taxes seen as favoring the North, and Congress threatened force if the state didn’t fall into line. The Supreme Court rejected nullification in 1958, after Southern states tried to use it to avoid desegregating public schools. Roughly four fifths of all states have passed some law in defiance of federal statutes.

Gun nullification laws have been passed in Kansas, Alaska, and Montana, where it was overturned by the courts. Proposals have been introduced in Tennessee and Pennsylvania. Nearly 250 sheriffs from across the country have written open letters defying national gun laws and threatening to arrest federal officials working in their jurisdictions." (more at link)

Here is today’s report (31 gun incidents, 18 deaths):

http://nocera.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/the-gun-report-february-13-2014/