State Rep. Ed Henry, R-Hartselle, is launching a head-on encounter with gun control activists.

He has pre-filed a bill in the state legislature that reaffirms the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and declares that all federal gun control acts, orders, rules or regulations are a violation of the amendment and shall be considered null and void in the State of Alabama.

It further states that it shall be the duty of the legislature of the state to stop and enact any and all measures as may be necessary to prevent the enforcement of any federal acts, laws, orders or regulations in violation of the Second Amendment.

Henry said he would introduce his bill in the next session of the legislature, which will begin on Feb. 5, and expects it to receive strong support from fellow lawmakers.

“This bill, if enacted and signed by the Governor, will help ensure that the citizens of Alabama are protected as much as possible from federal gun control measures that would deny them their constitutional right to own and possess firearms for their own protection,” Henry stated.

“Guns owned and possessed by law-abiding citizens are not the problem behind horrific acts of violence. It’s the people who possess them legally or illegally and use them to commit a crime.”

Henry said another bill aimed at protecting the gun owner’s rights is awaiting the start of the next legislative session.

House Bill No. 8, sponsored by Rep. Mike Jones of Andalusia, will be introduced and acted on as a proposed Constitutional Amendment. If approved, it will move forward and made subject to the approval of the state’s voters in the 2014 General Election.

“In the meantime, a bill such as the one I’m sponsoring would serve as a stopgap measure of protection.”