Spartanburg County state senator aims for SC gun rights
Lee Bright’s bill would challenge federal regulation of firearms made, used in state
State Sen. Lee Bright, R-Roebuck, has prefiled legislation that would make a firearm, firearm accessory or ammunition that is commercially or privately manufactured in South Carolina and does not leave this state exempt from federal regulation, including registration.
The “South Carolina Firearms Freedom Act” cites the 10th Amendment, which gives states rights not granted to the federal government in the Constitution. The bill stipulates that the federal government doesn’t have the right to regulate such items that do not leave the state under the Commerce Clause in the U.S. Constitution.
The bill is modeled after an effort in Montana that became law there in October, but has since been overturned by a federal judge. That decision is under appeal.
“If the gun is made here and used here, I don’t know how the Commerce Clause can regulate it … The Constitution gives us the right to bear arms, but it doesn’t limit rights,” Bright said. “There’s a lot of bills challenging federal authority, not just from me, but from other legislators around the country.”
He added: “If this (federal) health care law is overturned, there’s going to be a lot of other challenges. The federal government has usurped so much power from the states over the years, and the states have just let it happen. If we get a victory on health care, then there will be a lot of other things challenged that have been allowed to happen.”
And now… the rest of the story. …..
Harold
