Since 2008, The Fed, a privately owned entity authorized by Congress, has
been printing cash at unprecedented rates in an effort to stem fears of an
impending worldwide crisis driven by insolvency. One result of the Fed
printing campaign has been citizens� rush out of �paper currency� to embrace
gold and silver legal tender as an option. Arizona businesses will not be
required to accept the metals in payment.
If
signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer, the Arizona measure will take effect
in mid-2014. No word yet from the Brewer�s office on whether or not she will
sign (Press Releases).
If enacted the new law would allow a �state judge of
appropriate jurisdiction to grant legal tender status to non-U.S. minted coin
(specie).�
If you live in Arizona:
You may contact Governor Brewer and let
her know that you want her to sign SB1439 into law.
Even those Arizonans who aren�t interested in an alternative currency
might consider supporting the legislation simply on the principle of freedom
of choice.
TenthAmendmentCenter
strongly recommended that you CALL Brewer�s office rather than email:
(602) 542-4331
800-253-0883 (outside Maricopa County only)
The legislation
�cleared the Republican-controlled Senate by an 18-10 vote after being
approved by the state House earlier this month.� By approving the
�Constitutional Tender Act,� Arizona would join the lead established by Utah
in 2011 in recognizing U.S.-minted gold and silver as legal tender. As we
previously stated, other states are also following Utah�s lead, as looming
distrust of the Federal Reserve becomes more evident. Minnesota, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Idaho, Colorado, Missouri, Maine, Washington,
Tennessee, and New Hampshire are all currently considering adoption of the
Tender Act; Missouri and South Carolina are the closest to enacting
legislation.
To track constitutional tender bills see this Google
map.
Democrats, who voted against the Arizona measure in the Senate and the
House, argue that it
�sends a false message to constituents that gold and silver are safer than
traditional currency� this is too extreme,� as Democrat Senator Steve
Gallardo of Phoenix said. �We don�t need it� [freedom of choice]. Republican
State Senator Chester Crandell counters, however, by saying that making gold
and silver legal tender for Arizona is
�the logical thing to do.� He continues, �I think you look at some of the
things that are happening and the amount of money [currency] printed by the
Federal Reserve and who has control� I think anybody would be concerned.� He
maintains that enactment of this bill gives people the opportunity to use an
alternative method of payment in light of the ever-increasing devaluation of
the U.S. dollar, and states,
�Gold and silver have been around a long time, and people are secure with it,
and we should give them an opportunity to use it.�
Keith Weiner, president of the Gold
Standard Institute, believes that the legislation is needed to counter what
he sees as insolvency in the global monetary system. �The dollar system and all of the derivative
currencies, including the euro, are a recipe for worldwide bankruptcy,�
Weiner said. By expanding the definition of legal tender, Arizonans may well
be on the path to making gold and silver legal currency once again. As
Arizona follows Utah�s lead and returns to its �Gold Rush roots,� citizens may once again
obtain a sense of economic stability as fears of a collapsing dollar
diminish.
