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Utah Republicans Seek to Overrule Federal Gun Laws

Some Washington County Republicans are preparing state legislation to exempt Utah from federal gun laws and fine any federal agents who try to seize any guns.  

The move comes as a President Barack Obama pushed Congress on Wednesday to ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that republicans in Utah’s Washington County will ask state lawmakers to enact a law that would levy a $5,000 fine on any federal agent who takes a gun away from a Utah resident.

The party resolution would empower only Utah sheriffs to make gun seizures and prohibit federal agents from taking action on their own.

The ACLU of Utah says the effort would be meaningless because Utah can’t overrule federal law.