Another state fedup with washington, "Tennessee"

[Kenneth Allen]

SENATE BILL 1644By BeaversAN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4,relative to exempting from regulation under thecommerce clause of the Constitution of the UnitedStates a firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunitionmanufactured and retained in Tennessee.BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, is amended by adding Sections 2through 6 of this act as a new chapter thereto.SECTION 2. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Tennessee FirearmsFreedom Act".SECTION 3. The general assembly declares that the authority for this chapter is thefollowing:(1) The tenth amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees to thestates and their people all powers not granted to the federal government elsewhere inthe Constitution and reserves to the state and people of Tennessee certain powers asthey were understood at the time that Tennessee was admitted to statehood. Theguarantee of those powers is a matter of contract between the state and people ofTennessee and the United States as of the time that the compact with the United Stateswas agreed upon and adopted by Tennessee and the United States;(2) The ninth amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees to thepeople rights not granted in the Constitution and reserves to the people of Tennesseecertain rights as they were understood at the time that Tennessee was admitted tostatehood. The guarantee of those rights is a matter of contract between the state andpeople of Tennessee and the United States as of the time that the compact with theUnited States was agreed upon and adopted by Tennessee and the United States.(3) The regulation of intrastate commerce is vested in the states under the ninthand tenth amendments to the United States Constitution, particularly if not expresslypreempted by federal law. Congress cannot preempt state regulation of intrastatecommerce pertaining to the manufacture on an intrastate basis of firearms, firearmsaccessories, and ammunition;(4) The second amendment to the United States Constitution reserves to thepeople the right to keep and bear arms as that right was understood at the time thatTennessee was admitted to statehood, and the guarantee of the right is a matter ofcontract between the state and people of Tennessee and the United States as of thetime that the compact with the United States was agreed upon and adopted byTennessee and the United States; and(5) The Tennessee Constitution clearly secures to Tennessee citizens, andprohibits government interference with, the right of individual Tennessee citizens to keepand bear arms.SECTION 4. As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) "Firearms accessories" means items that are used in conjunction with ormounted upon a firearm but are not essential to the basic function of a firearm, includingbut not limited to telescopic or laser sights, magazines, flash or sound suppressors,folding or aftermarket stocks and grips, speedloaders, ammunition carriers, and lights fortarget illumination;(2) "Generic and insignificant parts" includes but is not limited to springs, screws,nuts, and pins; and- 3 - 00263805(3) "Manufactured" means creating a firearm, a firearm accessory, orammunition from basic materials for functional usefulness, including but not limited toforging, casting, machining, or other processes for working materials.SECTION 5. A firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition that is manufacturedcommercially or privately in Tennessee is not subject to federal law or federal regulation,including registration, under the authority of congress to regulate interstate commerce. It isdeclared by the legislature that those items have not traveled in interstate commerce. Thissection applies to a firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition that is manufactured inTennessee from basic materials and that can be manufactured without the inclusion of anysignificant parts imported into this state. Generic and insignificant parts that have othermanufacturing or consumer product applications are not firearms, firearms accessories, orammunition, and their importation into Tennessee and incorporation into a firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition manufactured in Tennessee does not subject the firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition to federal regulation. It is declared by the legislature that basic materials, such as unmachined steel and unshaped wood, are not firearms, firearmsaccessories, or ammunition and are not subject to congressional authority to regulate firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition under interstate commerce as if they were actually firearms, firearms accessories, or ammunition. The authority of congress to regulate interstate commerce in basic materials does not include authority to regulate firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition made in Tennessee from those materials. Firearms accessories that are imported into Tennessee from another state and that are subject to federal regulation as being in interstate commerce do not subject a firearm to federal regulation under interstate commerce because they are attached to or used in conjunction with a firearm in Tennessee.- 4 - 00263805SECTION 6. A firearm manufactured or sold in Tennessee under this chapter musthave the words "Made in Tennessee" clearly stamped on a central metallic part, such as thereceiver or frame.SECTION 7. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiringit.