August 22, 2004
Quote of the Day
In Colorado, the state where I live, the constitution provides that no new law may be passed unless it is immediately necessary to protect the health and safety of the people of the state. The idea—which went along with discouraging professional politicos (especially lawyers) in the legislature and strictly limiting the number of days that it could be in session—was to keep state laws to an absolute minimum.
The result? The infamous "safety clause" rubber-stamped at the top of every item of new legislation, a standard "boilerplate" asserting—whether a proposed law subsidizes unicorn ranchers or designates an official state intestinal parasite—that the law is immediately necessary (natch) to protect the health and safety of the people of Colorado.
Posted by Russell Whitaker at August 22, 2004 11:23 AM | TrackBackIt's been more than a decade since a requirement for Federal legislation was put in place that the specific part of the constitution that authorizes the new law be quoted.
So at the top of the Feinswine 10-round magazine limit is, indeed, the statement:
"Since the sale and trafficking in firearms and firearms accessories substantially effects interstate commerce...."
Posted by: Curt Howland on August 22, 2004 04:45 PM