Kansas responds to Eric Holder's warning

A new law in Kansas says that firearms manufactured inside the state are immune from federal regulations so long as they stay inside the state. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder claims in a letter to Kansas Governor Sam Brownback that the law in unconstitutional, and that the Department of Justice may challenge it in court.

Brownback has now responded to the attorney general's letter with a letter of his own, now posted on the state government's website:

May 2, 2013 

Attorney General Eric Holder
Office of the Attorney General
Washington, DC 20530 

Dear Attorney General Holder: 

            The State of Kansas is in receipt of your letter in which you place Kansas on notice regarding the view of the Obama Administration concerning the state’s Second Amendment Protection Act. 

 The right to keep and bear arms is a right that Kansans hold dear.  It is a right enshrined not only in the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, but also protected by the Kansas Bill of Rights.  The people of Kansas have repeatedly and overwhelmingly reaffirmed their commitment to protecting this fundamental right.  The people of Kansas are likewise committed to defending the sovereignty of the State of Kansas as guaranteed in the Ninth and Tenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. 

The state’s Second Amendment Protection Act, which expressly restates our commitment to these rights, was approved by wide, bi-partisan margins in the Kansas Legislature.  The measure was adopted by a vote of 35 to 4 in the Kansas Senate with the Democrat Senate Minority Leader supporting the bill.  The measure was adopted by a vote of 96 to 24 in the Kansas House of Representatives.  Again, the Democrat House Minority Leader voted for the bill.  This is not a partisan issue in Kansas.   

The people of Kansas have clearly expressed their sovereign will.  It is my hope that upon further review, you will see their right to do so. 

Sincerely,

Sam Brownback
Governor