Dear Governor Xxxxxxxxxx

        We respectfully encourage leaders of states that have enacted or intend to enact Firearms Freedom Acts (FFAs) to enforce them. Enforcement will be a challenge even if FFAs are found to be constitutional. Federal authorities have made clear they will not share regulatory jurisdiction over firearms.

        Our family proposes an even more challenging course. If FFAs are ruled unconstitutional, we recommend that a Coalition of Sovereign States nevertheless band together to enforce them - here's why. We believe that absolute federal control of commonly used firearms violates the Constitution. Employing general language such as the Commerce Clause to justify federal control of guns is an enormous reach. Several patently unsound Supreme Court decisions have given Washington regulatory jurisdiction over essentially all products - that's simply wrong.

        More important, there are public safety grounds for supporting shared control of conventional weapons. It's irresponsible to vest absolute authority over firearms in those who might someday oppress the people. Accepting such control violates the first law of nature; self-defense. British jurisdiction over the means of self-defense wasn't acceptable in the 1770s and total federal regulatory jurisdiction over firearms is equally inappropriate today - a substantial level of firearms control must remain with the people. States should adopt and enforce FFAs independent of court rulings and federal intimidation; failure to do so is a threat to public safety.

Sincerely

"Mac" & Mary Coverdell-Cox