Montana NDAA Nullification Bill Heads to the Governor with a Veto-Proof Majority

Today, the Montana Senate approved House Bill 522 (HB522) by a vote of 43-7, concurring with the State house which previously voted to approve the bill by a 98-0 vote.   The bill now goes to the Governor’s desk with a solid veto-proof majority.

If signed into law, HB522 would ban state compliance with, enforcement, enforcement of, or any assistance for NDAA “indefinite detention”.   It reads:

The state of Montana may not provide material support or participate with the implementation of sections 1021 and 1022 of the federal National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, Public Law 112-81, within the boundaries of this state.

This would make a HUGE dent in any effort to further restrict due process – and would be a big step forward for Montana. As Judge Andrew Napolitano has said recently, such widespread noncompliance can make a federal law “nearly impossible to enforce” (video here)

Grassroots activists worked tirelessly to support this legislation, and people came from across the political spectrum in favor of the bill.  ACLU, Tenth Amendment Center, Oath Keepers and many others worked in favor.  Bill sponsor, Nicholas R. Schwaderer, a 24-year old freshman representative for the republicans gained much deserved support from people on both sides of the aisle.

On the 2nd reading of the bill yesterday, the vote tally was 37-12.  The grassroots immediately sprang into gear to ensure a stronger margin in the face of a potential veto.  Montana Tenth Amendment Center coordinator Tim Ravndal summed it up, “We campaigned pretty hard against the 13 that voted against the bill yesterday on 2nd reading, so I guess we got to almost half.”

Ravndal also noted that the work isn’t done.  ”Contact Montana Governor Steve Bulloch and forcefully but politely seek his endorsement on HB 522. The Constitutional protections against indefinate detention without due process must become law.”

ACTION ITEMS FOR MONTANA

1.  Call Governor Steve Bullock.    A phone call will have far more effect than an email.  Let him know that you want him to SIGN HB522 when it reaches his desk.  Strongly, but very politely, make sure he knows that you want him to do the right thing – principle not party – and make sure that Montana will not be a part of unconstitutional federal detention schemes.

406-444-3111

link to contact form here: http://governor.mt.gov/contact.aspx

2.  Encourage your local community to take action as well.  Present the Liberty Preservation Act to your city county, your town council, or your county commissioners.  Various local governments around the country are already passing similar resolutions and ordinances.  Local legislative action present a great way to strengthen a statewide campaign against NDAA indefinite detention.  Even if this bill is signed into law, there’s going to be a lot of work that needs to be done.

Model legislation here:
http://tenthamendmentcenter.com/ndaa

3.  Get active on Facebook.  Join the Nullify NDAA group for Montana and get involved with others around the state to stop indefinite detention. https://www.facebook.com/groups/nullifyndaamontana/

LEGISLATION AND TRACKING

If you live anywhere outside of Montana, please contact your own legislators regarding anti-NDAA legislation. If none has been introduced in your state, you can email them The Liberty Preservation Act model legislation.

Track the status of NDAA nullification in states around the country HERE