ALABAMA CONSTITUTION WILL HAVE STRONGEST GUN PROTECTION PROVISIONS IN THE COUNTRY WITH FIREARMS PROTECTION AMENDMENT
Rep Mike Jones (R-Andalusia) sponsors amendment as part of 2013 Legislative Agenda
MONTGOMERY- Recent 5-4 decisions of the United States Supreme Court have threatened the sanctity of the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution. Alabamians have a constitutional right to keep and bear arms and the Alabama Constitution should, as strongly as possible, protect that right. That’s why in Alabama, we dare defend our right to bear arms.
Today, Freshman Representative Mike Jones (R-Andalusia) announced he will carry the Alabama Firearms Protection Amendment, or House Bill 8, a cornerstone piece of legislation in the 2013 House Republican Agenda. Last week, Alabama House Republicans announced their 2013 agenda, named after the state’s motto “We Dare Defend Our Rights.”
“Given the course that the federal government is taking, it is imperative that we protect our God-given right to defend our families, our homes, and ourselves,” Rep Jones said. “If the federal government won’t protect our right to keep and bear arms, we’re prepared to do it at the state level.”
If ratified, the Alabama Firearms Protection Amendment would alter Section 26 of the Alabama Constitution, positioning Alabama to have the strongest gun ownership safeguards of any state constitution in the country. While the Alabama Supreme Court has said that Section 26 is subject to “reasonable regulation by the state,” this Amendment will eliminate any doubt that firearms are a guaranteed right in Alabama.
“The Alabama Firearms Protection Amendment adds language to our constitution that requires the highest level of scrutiny from the courts,” Jones said. “Including this language will cement Alabama’s stance on the right to bear arms by declaring it as ‘fundamental.’”
This level of scrutiny is the highest level available in the American judicial system. Overcoming strict scrutiny is difficult – if not impossible – which will protect the right of Alabamians to bear arms more than ever before. This Amendment will also provide that no international treaty or law shall interfere with a citizen’s right to bear arms.
For more information on the Alabama Firearms Protection Amendment, please visit www.alhousegop.com/
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