Forsyth County resident Shane Hazel wants to see more power go back to the states and residents.

On Monday, Hazel spoke to attendees at a joint meeting of the United Tea Party of Georgia and the Forsyth County Tea Party about Liberty Georgia, a group he recently formed to push back at overreach in the federal government through nullification, or allowing states to nullify unconstitutional laws.

“I started this group, Liberty Georgia, here locally in Forsyth County to teach the Constitution, teach the history of the Constitution and to teach the founder’s writing in regards to the Constitution so we can apply those and offer solutions to our current paradigm here in the Unites States,” Hazel said.

Hazel, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, went through the history leading up to the Constitution, going back to the rule of William the Conqueror in the 1100s and quoting several of the Founding Fathers on their thoughts on nullification government over reach and other items. 

He said the Constitution is an agreement between the states and that the current federal government is the result of letting the “government outgrow its constitutional boundaries.” 

Hazel said the federal government should only have powers laid out in the Constitution and that all others should go to the states.

“What they will tell you at the federal level and in the mainstream media is that the federal government is supreme for a number of reasons; the supremacy clause, the welfare clause, the interstate commerce clause. The representatives will tell you their constituents come first. Campaign contributions kind of fuel that, party platform, bureaucracy, policy in the courts and judicial precedence,” he said. “None of these — none — are what takes precedence when we talk about the Constitution as codified law.”

Another issue raised in the meeting was politicians promising more control in campaigns, only for a shift to happen once they are elected.

“[They say] just give us a Congress, give us a Senate. We’ll make things happen. Give us a presidency. What has happened? Zero, absolutely zero,” Hazel said. “Will you make every decision based on the Constitution and individual liberty? If they can’t answer yes to both questions, they need to go.”

Hazel said the group, which was formed in August, has about 200 members and is hoping to spread its message at other meetings.