Washington, we have a problem.

"... In conclusion, I am hereby announcing an economic stimulus package which will be funded by a five-hundred percent increase in tax on all ammunition sales, effective immediately."

A smattering of polite applause crept through President Obama's first public assembly at the White House since taking office.

"Effective July 1 of this year, I am ordering that all private gun stores be closed, all civilian weapons sales be halted, and all privately owned handguns and rifles be remanded to the Federal Government."

What had been light applause grew to wild cheering.

"The stimulus incentive will unfold as private citizens turn in their firearms to their local police stations and sheriff's offices, for which they will receive a food or gasoline voucher in the amount of three hundred dollars per firearm returned. All outstanding firearms will be deemed illegal, and any person not in compliance with the Firearms Forfeiture Act of 2009 will be guilty of a felony. We will clean up the streets and get this economy moving once again." The president flashed his hundred-watt smile. "Thank you all, and have a good night."

Thunderous applause roared through the anteroom to the White House as every attendee stood and shouted their hearty approval. And so it was that President Barack Obama, on this twenty-second day of January, 2009, had done what no president in the history of the United States had ever managed to do: He single-handedly tore the Second Amendment out of the United States Constitution, and he did it with admiring eyes adoring his every movement.

The President receded into the Oval Office and was quickly intercepted by his number two man, Joe Biden. "Mr. President? You've got an urgent phone call holding for you."

"Not now, Joe. I've got that speech I promised to give to CAIR in twenty minutes," Obama said, walking briskly past the Vice President.

"Sir, Governor Palin is on line five, and she's steamed."

"Governor Palin? How did -- Okay, send the call into my office. Give me a minute."

President Obama sat at his desk and straightened his tie as VP Biden and Secretary of State Colin Powell let themselves in through the ornate front door. He tossed a wadded up piece of paper into a trash can a few feet from the desk, then punched a flashing button and spoke into the speakerphone.

"Governor Palin, what a pleasure it is to --"

"Save it, Mr. President. I caught wind of your little end-run around the Constitution, your so-called Firearms Forfeiture Act. Now you hear me and hear me good. The State of Alaska will secede from the Union before July 1 unless you drop your plan immediately."

"Governor Palin, with all due respect, I've got the Congress and S --"

"Barry, forget it. I've got four other governors lined up behind me. They'll be lighting your phone lines any minute. We in Alaska are intent on keeping the Second Amendment, as originally drafted, and we will not relinquish our guns. Period, end of story. You can't force your big-city politics down the throats of us rural people."

"I'm sorry you feel that way, Governor, but the act has been signed into law and will become effective in its final phase on July 1. It's a dead issue as far as I'm concerned." The President was digging his heels in for what he knew would be a long battle with a formidable foe, and he had no intention of backing down.

"Fine. I will be announcing the details of your scheme on statewide television at nine p.m. my time. We will disassemble and reroute the pipeline and will keep the revenue for ourselves. Then we'll begin drilling on the entire north slope. I will announce emergency legislation to call all Alaskans serving in the US military home. Alaska will be free from federal tyranny. We will follow the Constitution to the letter," Governor Palin said with added emphasis on her last three words.

"Governor Palin, you're way out of line. You can't threaten me like that."

"Oh I have, Barry. And I intend to keep my word."

"I'll send federal authorities into Alaska to enforce the law," Obama insisted.

"Then I'll oppose your federal cops with my state and local police forces. And if I have to, I'll arm every man, woman, and child to keep Alaska free."

"Do you really want me to send in the National Guard, Sarah?"

"Send anyone you want, Barry, if you want this to get ugly. Just remember the military bases here in Alaska before you get too crazy."

Closing his eyes, the President squeezed the bridge of his nose between two fingers. For a moment, he was speechless. Then some words came to him. "Sarah, you lost the race in November. It was a huge victory for us, and the people have spoken. This is what they've wanted for a long time. It's really the best thing --"

"Cut the crap, Barry," Palin objected. "I suggest you get a copy of the Constitution and read it. Pay particular attention to the Second Amendment."

"I know how it reads, Sarah. You don't need to remind me," he scolded her.

"Then abide by it!" she demanded.

"Sarah, look. I have a meeting in fifteen minutes, and I don't want to be late." But the phone was dead. Governor Palin had hung up.

President Obama stared at the silent phone for a moment before leaning back in his chair. "Wow," he said. "She's scorching hot. How did she find out so fast?"

"Beats me," Biden offered. "What was that about other governors?"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Obama said.

Three quick raps at the door, then it swung open slowly. One of the President's personal secretaries stood in the doorway and motioned to her ear. "Mr. President? You've got an urgent call on line nine."

Obama and Biden locked eyes. "Let me guess, Melodie. The governor of Oklahoma, right?"

"No sir. Montana. It's Governor Schweitzer," she said, then closed the door and was gone.

"Good Lord," Powell said. "She wasn't bluffing."

The President took a deep breath and punched the button for line nine. "Hello, Governor. So good of you to call."

"We're on board with Alaska, Mr. President. I'm sorry sir, but our state constitution forbids meddling by the Federal Government when it comes to our gun rights. You and I have been through this before. I guess you thought I was blowing smoke at you. Sir." Schweitzer was ticked, but he remained cordial.

"Brian, I just got off the phone with Governor Palin, and we saw eye to eye on several key points. I'm sure we'll --"

"Who are you kidding? I heard the whole phone call. She put you in your place, and I'm going along with her. Sorry, Mr. President, but you brought this on yourself."

"Governor Schweitzer, if you're planning on joining her little secession party, I'm telling you bluntly, right now. Forget it."

"No, Mr. President, you forget it. Together our five states comprise a land mass the size of France and Germany combined. You can't win. We have civilians who will enlist to fight you if you let it get to that point."

"Five states? What are you talking --" A little light went on above the President's head. "Talk to me, Brian. Who else is with you?"

"They'll be calling you, Mr. President." Governor Schweitzer clicked off the line.

President Obama and Governor Schweitzer had been through this before, the governor was right. But Obama had thought it was just cocktail napkin stuff, not to be taken seriously. He knew that Montana and Alaska had enormous natural resources and huge stockpiles of nuclear weapons riding on the most sophisticated missiles in the world, weapons he hoped would never be used. But now they were in danger of falling into the hands of a foreign country -- one which had yet to be defined. This could not be happening. Not on the third day of his presidency.

Obama folded his hands together and looked pleadingly at Biden and Powell for suggestions.

"We could pull the National Guard from the west coast states and Wyoming, Idaho, the Dakotas, and go in there and smash both of them," Powell said with a twinkle in his eye. Clearly the general thought in military terms; his game plan had defaulted to an armed confrontation.

Biden added, "I can get a hold of the major news outlets and we can spin it like they've lost their minds. Gun-toting right-wing nuts, that sort of thing. Make it sound like a coup. We'll have the west coast governors on our side, and I'm sure --"

"Forget Wyoming, that's Cheney country. Maybe Colorado," Obama snapped back at them.

"Okay, cross Wyoming off," Biden said.

"Who do you suppose the other three are?" asked a tentative Colin Powell.

"I think we'll be finding out by the time the President finishes with CAIR in... thirty minutes," Biden replied.

The President stared at the phone in horror, fearing who might be next in line to take a swing at him.