July 23rd News and Notes
A couple stories of interest on the fourth Thursday in July:
Chief Justice Bill Waller to Run For Governor?
The latest from the Gallo rumor mill is indicating that the chief justice has eyes on another job in Jackson and that is to be the next governor. When they contacted Waller, he said he is focusing on the job at hand. He isn’t denying anything…may just be viewing his options and will make a decision down the road. And in the world of politics, 2011 is not that far away.
MS GOP Ramps Up Voter ID Initiative Fundraising
The state GOP is fully supporting the effort to collect signatures for an initiative that would require identification at the polls should voters support it. The current goal is to raise $200,000 for a campaign that will include mail outs, radio spots, and foot soldiers. And David Landrum, the former Congressional candidate, will lend his support at a Jackson fundraiser in September.
Brian Perry had the latest on the process in his weekly column today.
Harper Will Miss Neshoba
Rep. Gregg Harper had planned on speaking at the Neshoba County Fair, which starts tomorrow, but will be in DC for some votes. Here is a list of the political speakers that will be participating, and it includes only current office holders, so there should not be too many fireworks without the campaigning- but it should still be interesting.
Anti-Gun Lobby Wins One
Also from DC, the Senate narrowly defeated legislation that would allow reciprocity with concealed-carry permits. What that means is a law-abiding gun owner who is a resident of Mississippi and has a permit would be able to cross state lines with the firearm. The final vote was 58-39 in favor of the amendment, but two votes shy of the 60 needed for approval. Twenty Democrats joined 38 Republicans in support of this measure. The New York Times has the roll call, and I like the map they use. This bill was supported by a bipartisan group of Senators from the South, Midwest, and Mountain West (including Senators Cochran and Wicker); while Democrats from the West Coast and Northeast shot it down.
If you look again at the map the republican senators in Indiana and Ohio voted against the bill. If they had voted in favor it would have received the 60 needed votes. So one could just as easily say midwestern republicans blocked the bill.
On a side note, while I am a strong supporter of second amendment rights this bill raises serious federalism concerns with me. What role does the federal government have telling the states who can and cannot carry concealed weapons across state lines? What ever happened to states’ rights? This map reflects why individuals such as myself have become disenfranchised with the republican party. Many of these “red” states whose repulican senators voted in favor of the bill have recently in their state legislatures passed resolutions affirming their state’s rights under the 10th amendment. However, when it comes to gun laws these same “red” states are now supporting federal legislation expanding the power of the federal government and telling the states what they can and cannot do.
The most troubling part of the amendment I have with is the langauge which reads “Notwithstanding any provision of the law of any State or political subdivision thereof–” In so stating the federal government is telling the states if you issue conceal and carry permits you have to let everyone from every state which allows them to carry in your state. Currently many states already recognize reciprocity with other state issued concealed permits. This raises two important questions: 1) why is this legislation even needed if many states are already doing this under their own power and authority; and 2) why should a state (say Mississippi) not have the right to look at (say Montana’s) permitting process and say you are not doing a thorough job of training and background checking so I won’t let your concealed permit holders carry in this state. As the laws now stand what it takes to get a concealed permit are vastly different from state to state.
The republican party needs to get back to being the party of state’s rights, limited government and fiscal responsibility. Once they do that there will once again be a viable alternative to the democrat party and the nation as a whole will be better served.