I've forgotten where I read it, but wasn't there a ruling that the states bordering on Mexico couldn't enforce Federal Immigration law with local or state police?
I think that ruling would apply to all federal laws. Federal police have to enforce Federal law.
OK, I did some further research on the matter of state/local LEO enforcing federal laws. Some of my own beliefs were erroneous. I will defer to any LEO/attorney who has more knowledge on the matter, though.
In general, state and local LEO do not have the authority to enforce federal laws. HOWEVER, that doesn't mean that they cannot arrest a person for violating a federal law. Lots of things to consider here.
- One is whether or not there is an analogous local or state law. If so, then local or state LEO will most certainly be empowered to enforce that law.
- A federal agency may ask a local/state agency to conduct an arrest. In such an instance, the local/state agency will then be empowered to do so.
- A local/state agency may choose to make an arrest for a federal violation. However, the matter would have to be turned over to the appropriate federal agency, which has the option of saying "yea" or "nay" to it. A scenario might mean a local LEO would arrest someone for a federal violation, but not be able to jail the individual unless the federal agency chooses to take the case. If the federal agency won't take the case, the individual can't be held...or the local LEO has to come up with a local/state citation he is empowered to enforce.
- Some local/state officers may be specifically empowered by the federal government to handle certain matters. Immigration would be an example where this happens.
NOW, here's where the rubber meets the road with respect to applicability to THR:
The GFSZA itself is a federal statute. However, if the state you reside in has also codified it, or portions of it, then the state has LEO's who are empowered to enforce those laws on the state level.
For example, SC code 23.31-215.M(8) says
"A permit issued pursuant to this section does not authorize a permit holder to carry a concealable weapon into a:
(8) place where the carrying of firearms is prohibited by federal law;"
If you violate the STATE statutes listed, including this one, state LEO's ARE empowered to enforce this and there is a STATE penalty:
"A person who wilfully violates a provision of this subsection is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be fined not less than one thousand dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, at the discretion of the court and have his permit revoked for five years."
So the state of SC, in my example, can effectively arrest you for violating the GFSZA because they made it a STATE CRIME to carry a gun anywhere the federal laws say you're not allowed.
If you were to be charged with the federal offense of violating the GFSZA, then the federal government would get involved in this and penalty would be:
"Whoever violates the Act shall be fined not more than $5,000, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the term of imprisonment imposed under this paragraph shall not run concurrently with any other term of imprisonment imposed under any other provision of law."
A conviction under these terms would constitute a felony conviction and you'd lose your RKBA for the rest of your life.
Big difference.
My thanks to the people who posted on the matter of local/state agencies enforcing federal laws. I learned a lot researching this.