I was amazed at the shellacking Texas' Governor Perry took in the press and on the blogsophere for his comments. Although not one of his biggest fans, I understood what he was trying to convey (shooting a verbal shot across the fed's bow as it were)and that he wasn't actually threatening imminent secession of The Lone Star state; many other people seemed not to "get it", though.
Texas' HB 1863, is the bill mentioned in the article (that is similar to what Montana already passed) regarding guns made in Texas being exempt from federal control and is essentially drawing a state right line in the sand. It didn't make it to the floor for a vote due to infighting over a different bill during the current session due to adjourn June 1. I think Texans may be watching to see how well Montana fares in the fight that will inevitably ensue when her new law goes into effect this fall; otherwise surely Perry would have called a special session to push this one and a couple of others on through. I could be misreading the lay of the political landscape down in Austin, though.
I'm always a little amused when the idea of states being "on the dole" from the fed is brought up. Where did the fed's money came from in the first place, if not from people and businesses in the various states being taxed? Oh, I forgot ... they just print as needed. LOL
Still, it is interesting to see an issue so central to the War Between The States (at least in the minds of some of us) and one which seemed to be a relic of past times coming to the fore so forcefully 150 years later! High time, I say.