Wyoming Needs A History Lesson

Before Vice President Joe Biden can deliver his recommendations on new Gun Control measures on Tuesday, some people and states are getting a little excited about what may come.  Wyoming is floating a bill that would nullify any federal law they, as a state, don’t approve of.  Also, this law, were it actually passed, would create punishments for law enforcement personnel that would come into the state to enforce the law.

Disregarding the obvious unconstitutionality of that proposal, this has been tried before. 

Twice.

In 1832, that bastion of sense, South Carolina passed and ordinance that said they could nullify an act of Congress.  In this case it had to do with South Carolina’s want to do business with foreign governments independently of the nation.  Congress said no, and South Carolina said, “well we’re gonna anyway,” and then stuck out their tongue at Congress. 

Ok, so maybe that wasn’t the exact what they said, but the sentiment was the same.

President Andrew Jackson was understandably upset when he heard this.  This was also one of the things that angered him about his own Vice President, John C. Calhoun whom he threatened to hang.  Calhoun was from South Carolina and took their side in his matter.  Jackson felt that this issue could and would lead to a civil war.  He wrote a letter to South Carolina that cooled things off and put off the civil war for almost thirty years. 

The second time nullification was discussed the Civil War actually occurred. Newly elected President Abraham Lincoln knew this was coming and actually usedJackson’s letter to South Carolina as part of his inspiration for his first inaugural address.  This time states decided they didn’t want to follow federal law an estimated 750,000 Americans died.  Also, their nullification did not stand.

So, Wyoming, is this truly the way you want to go down in history?  Your proposal will not work and it says that you are not willing to address gun violence in this country.  Perhaps there is less gun violence in Wyoming than in some other states and that is why you feel it is appropriate for you to ignore your duty as a member of the United States.  We, Wyoming, we are in this together.  We are one nation, supposedly indivisible, and that means that you should join the conversation.  Don’t stick out your tongue at Congress.  John Boehner may not have a very nice reaction…