Video Podcasts

296 – Spying on American Gun Owners Act

Benjamin Franklin said:

“They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.”

Yet with the promise of keeping us safe from “gun violence”, “violent extremists”, and “domestic terrorists”, Congress wants you to give up your essential liberty to be free from unreasonable searches. H.R. 5764 is the first step to a writ of assistance against anyone who buys or sells firearms. This has been done before, so why shouldn’t Congress think they can get away with it again?

295 – Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health – Oral Arguments

The Supreme Court opinions in Roe v Wade (Roe) and Planned Parenthood vs Casey (Casey) have been political footballs since the day they were decided. A recent Mississippi law placed restrictions on abortions within the state that contradict the standards set by Roe and Casey. Not surprisingly, a lawsuit was filed challenging the Mississippi law. Recently, oral arguments in this case were heard at the Supreme Court. I found a number of arguments that I believe anyone interested in what the Constituiton actually says would find worth their time.

Constitution Study Live Q&A – Dec 9, 2021

You bring the questions, I’ll bring the answers.

293 – USA, Inc.?

One concept that I often see people express is that the United States is now a private corporation. Those who make these claims often cite The District of Columbia Act of 1871 as proof. This “fact” is then used to support various positions or explain why or how certain acts of government take place. So let’s look at The District of Columbia Act of 1871 and the Constitution of the United States to see for ourselves if we are no longer citizens of a union, but subjects of a corporation.

292 – Parents’Rights

With the recent “approval” of the Pfizer vaccine for 5-11 year olds, many are wondering when the “recommendation” to vaccinate will become a mandate. Do governments have the legal authority to intervene in family decision? If so, under what conditions? One opinion comes from a case out of the Second Circuit in the 1970s. Understanding the limits of the coercive power of government over families will be important if we wish to remain free.

291 – The Supremacy Clause and the Tenth Amendment v. Mandates

By now, you’ve probably heard of Jen Psaki’s response to a question about Texas standing up to Biden’s threatened vaccine mandate. She stated that federal law trumps state law. I guess it’s true that the best lie should contain a bit of truth. Today, let’s answer the question of whether federal law always trumps state law. Let’s do so by looking at the original documents, so we can answer this question not only when it comes to vaccine mandates, but all of the acts coming out of Washington, D.C.

Constitution Live Q&A – Nov. 11, 2021

You bring the questions, I’ll bring the answer.

This special event will be held before a live audience in Tampa, FL!

290 – Illinois Gun Tax Case

I usually cover cases involving the Constitution of the United States. Today however, I am looking at a case out of the State of Illinois involving that state’s constitution and the question of county gun and ammo taxes. While the appellant’s complaint argues that these taxes violate the both Article I, Section 22 of the Illinois Constituiton and Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Illinois Supreme Court instead focused on the taxing power of the county. While Cook County gun owners may be happy with the outcome, as a constitutional scholar I find the majority opinion woefully lacking.