It appears lawmakers in Virginia have taken a direct shot at detention provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress last year. I don't see coverage in mainstream media, but a group called the 10th Amendment Center posts this report:
RICHMOND, Va. – On Wednesday, the Virginia legislature overwhelmingly passed a law that forbids state agencies from cooperating with any federal attempt to exercise the indefinite detention without due process provisions written into sections 1021 and 1022 of the National Defense Authorization Act.
HB1160 “Prevents any agency, political subdivision, employee, or member of the military of Virginia from assisting an agency of the armed forces of the United States in the conduct of the investigation, prosecution, or detention of a United States citizen in violation of the United States Constitution, Constitution of Virginia, or any Virginia law or regulation.”
The legislature previously passed HB1160 and forwarded it to Gov. Bob McDonnell for his signature. Last week, the governor agreed to sign the bill with a minor amendment. On Wednesday, the House of Delegates passed the amended version of the legislation 89-7. Just hours later, the Senate concurred by a 36-1 vote.
Bill sponsor Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Manassas) says that since the legislature passed HB1150 as recommended by the governor, it does not require a signature and will become law effective July 1, 2012.The bill received prior straight-forward coverage in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The act by the General Assembly shows strong concerns remain about language in the NDAA that won passage with both Democrat and Republican support in Congress. Some in Congress have flatly denied provisions in the act would allow the military to target U.S. citizens as critics have claimed, but if that's true, why did it Virginia lawmakers see enough danger to compel specific resistant action?
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