Governor Herbert,

In your State of the State Address you said:

"Several weeks ago, I traveled to Washington D.C. and met with top leaders in Congress and at the White House. I strongly emphasized that the federal government should not do what state governments are already doing well in areas such as health care. The continued encroachment of the federal government into our businesses, our lives and our pocketbooks must be challenged."

I'm sure you'll agree that “doing well” isn’t what makes certain areas the business of the State—it is our U.S. Constitution—and that “doing poorly” doesn’t justify federal intervention in state affairs.

Through the Supreme Court’s absurd interpretation of the Commerce Clause and other perversions of the U.S. Constitution, the Federal Government has increasingly voided citizens' unalienable rights as advocated in the Declaration of Independence. The Federal Government's disregard for the principles of liberty as envisioned by the Founders is alarming. Our nation is increasingly becoming a fascist, socialistic country. As we do so, we are moving towards an Orwellian police state. We see decreasing efforts to preserve our national sovereignty and a corresponding acceptance of global governance. Our liberties will surely be lost if we trade our national values for a compromising mix of global values.

The role of state governments in protecting our liberties and our nation's sovereignty is more important now than it has ever been. This issue is not merely academic: bailouts, stimulus plans, government takeovers of businesses, warrantless wiretapping, sneak-and-peek searches, unconscionable public debt, wars which Congress has not declared, the welfare state, illegal detention of prisoners without habeas corpus, torture of prisoners, ignoring the principle of posse comitatus, illegal seizing of firearms, and the Federal Government’s relentless usurpation of state prerogatives. The situation is becoming dire--we must act before it becomes too late.

As a sovereign state, Utah has both a duty and a privilege to protect the liberties of its citizens. This is a call to action. As our governor, I ask you to:

(1) Help educate Utahns to the reality and danger of federal usurpation of powers, the resulting loss of liberty, and states' rights.

(2) Speak out on the issues of individual liberty and states' rights.

(3) Use the powers of nullification to void federal mandates and encroachments.

(3) Sign S.B. 11 Utah State-Made Firearms Protection Act and encourage additional legislation which reclaims Utahns' rightful liberties.

(4) Beware of partnerships with the Federal Government such as President Obama's newly announced Council of Governors.

(5) Resist the Federal Government’s furthering of unconstitutional practices through active disagreement; seek to re-establish Utah's 10th Amendment powers.

(6) Ask the State Legislature to write a Federal Tax Escrow Account bill to provide a mechanism with which to sanction the Federal Government for unconstitutional statutes, actions, or regulations.

Governor Herbert, there has never been a time as crucial as now for Utah to lead in protecting the liberties of both Utahns, Americans, and indeed all people. Please use the power of your office to fight against tyrannical usurpation of local governing power and individual self-determination.

I thank you for your service as our governor and have confidence in your desires and abilities to address these important issues.

Following is the text of an email sent to my Utah state representative, Brent Wallis, and my Utah state senator, Jon Greiner.

Representative Wallis and Senator Greiner,

I urge your wholehearted support for S.B. 11 Utah State-made Firearms Protection Act and/or other similar bills which re-state and reclaim the state sovereignty we have given up to the federal government.

The federal government is increasingly leading us into socialism and fascism. All three branches of government have colluded to concentrate power in the federal government at the expense of states' rights and the will of the people. The federal government has turned the Constitution on its head: rather than exercising only the limited powers granted it, the federal government now assumes unlimited power. Burdensome federal laws and regulations have robbed us of a good deal of our liberty. Federal officials routinely disregard or violate their oaths of office to "preserve, protect, and defend" the Constitution of the United States.

I assume you are well aware of the unconstitutional and tyrannical police state America is becoming. Our country is in a very precarious situation. Corruption in high places abounds. Many people, including those in high places, want to increase the power of the federal government. This can only mean a loss of liberty for "we the people." There are also those who would destroy the sovereignty of the United States and meld us into a world government. Should that happen, it will be the end of liberty not only for America but for other democratic nations as well.

I submit that the only way remaining to reclaim our country and return to the God-inspired republic our Founding Fathers established, is through a firm exercise of states' rights. Many states throughout the nation are doing precisely this. Of all states, given the history of persecution and repression suffered by Utah's pioneer founders, surely Utah should understand the vital role that Constitutional government plays in the preservation of our liberties.

Again, I urge you to take a firm stand against federal usurpation of the state powers affirmed in the 9th and 10th amendments to the United States' Constitution. Let Utah lead out in nullifying unconstitutional federal laws, edicts, and regulations. Utah can and must increasingly reassert its state sovereignty and push back against the federal government's tyranny. This is a struggle not only for the welfare of the people of Utah, but for liberty throughout the entire nation and indeed, the entire world.

I look forward to your replies.

Respectfully submitted, along with my gratitude and appreciation for your service to our state,

Marty W. Jensen
4655 Madison Ave.
South Ogden, Utah 84403

P.S. Aside from supporting a state-made firearms act, Utah should enter into reciprocal agreements with other like-minded states, allowing commerce to flow between states in defiance of the federal government's claim to regulate everything passing between state borders.