1 of 9 The Militiaman's Newsletter TAKING AIM Volume 1, Issue No. 6, 1994 MOM C/O P. O. Box 1486 Noxon, MT 59853 (406) 847-2246 Voice/Fax "WE CHOOSE TO OPT OUT" The Militia of Montana (MOM) is joining forces with the Montana Shooting Sports Association (MSSA), Montana's state-wide, politi- cal-action organization for all Montana gun owners for a consti- tutional amendment to repeal Article I of the Montana Constitu- tion, the Compact with the United States. MSSA has invited participation by all Montana organizations. Therefore, MOM, being a member of MSSA, has decided to join forces with MSSA in taking the necessary steps to accomplish this task. In a press release issued by MSSA to news media nationwide, president Gary Marbut announced: "When Montana agreed to become a state, there was a basic presumption that the people of Montana would always be protected from the federal government by the Bill of Rights. Congress has abrogated that presumption, and has thereby nullified Montana's contract with the other states. Therefore, we have no further moral or legal obligation to main- tain the Compact with the United States." Marbut continued: "The contentions which existed between the thirteen original colonies and the English Crown, and which gave rise to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, now exist between Montana and the government of the United States. Congress has been warned by other states about its steady en- croachment upon states' sovereignty, to no avail. Now, Montana will simply and peaceably opt out from under federal authority. We will be joined in this by many people, and other states, who love freedom, and who will no longer tolerate the spiraling federal assumption of authority over every person and every thing." MOM is fully prepared to join MSSA in taking this measure to the 1995 Legislature for placement on the ballot as a referendum. If the Legislature fails to act, MOM is also fully prepared to assist in placing a referendum before the people via the initiative process at the first available opportunity, which will begin in July of 1995. "Montanans are fed up with the federal government dictating to Montana and the people of Montana," Marbut added, "and we are through with Congress's increasing encroachment on the Bill of Rights. We have a thirst for freedom in Montana, and we simply will not subsist under the boot heel of federal tyranny. There may be some debate about what the Second Amendment means to the U.S. Supreme Court or the people of Peoria, but there is no question about what the Second Amendment means to the people of Montana. 'The great purpose', as Patrick Henry said, 'is that every man be armed.' Congress is willing to trade our rights for temporary political gain, but we will simply not submit to the accelerating betrayal of our constitutional rights. We choose to opt out." MSSA has made public a constitutional initiative that would repeal Article I of the Montana Constitution and replace that article with a new Article I giving state government sufficient power to operate Montana as a sovereign nation. This move is based on the fact that the Compact with the United States is a part of the Montana Constitution, and that the Constitution reserves to the people the right to "alter or abolish the Constitution and form of government whenever (the people) deem it necessary." (Article II, Sec. 2) Also, when Montana became a state and the Montana Constitution was first approved by the people, there was language placed in this document which is still present as Article II, Section 2, which says, "The people have the right of governing themselves as a free, sovereign, and independent state." Thus, the right of the people of Montana to separate themselves from the federal government has been reserved to the people in the Montana Consti- tution. "There is no doubt that this step is strong medicine," Marbut continued, "but this is a place in history that requires strong medicine. We do not suggest this step lightly. The people of MSSA are the kinds of folks who still get goose bumps when we sing the National Anthem, and we revere our country, our flag and our constitutional form of government. However, we love freedom more than we respect the federal government, which, quite frank- ly, has crossed over the double yellow. Montana is still the land of the free and the home of the brave. We will keep our freedom, even if it means going on our own, just as the nation- states of Eastern Europe have recently done." The Montana Constitution may be changed only by a vote of the people. A constitutional change may be put before the people by the Legislature as a constitutional referendum, or one may be placed on the ballot by the people using the initiative process. Because of the laws in Montana regarding the submission of initiatives for signatures and the time limit for that process, the next time Montana citizens could submit a constitutional initiative will be in June of 1995. Again, MOM is in full support and will take any steps that are necessary in carrying out this task. The federal government has shown itself to be irresponsible and criminal in its actions against the people of Montana. (continued)