Supreme Court Will Hear D.C. Guns Case

[RugerNiner]

I don't know why it wasn't brought up that it would be inconceivable to think that 9 of the original Amendments undeniably point to an individuals rights and that one Amendment is reserved for a collective group.

[headcase]

I heard about half of it. From what I heard, it sounded like the SC is going to strike down the DC ban. It also seems like we will see them specifically say that the 2A is a civil right. Whatever else they attach to their ruling, I foresee a slew of challenges to state and federal gun control laws that will be ultimately decided in the federal court of appeals. It will be interesting to see how those judges interpret the coming decision, because I doubt we will see the SCOTUS take up this argument again in our lifetime. I think we should all take a breath here and wait for the actual decision before we burst blood vessals...

[Slotimus]

Originally Posted by ALS

Supreme Court Majority Appears To Back Gun Rights

A majority of the Supreme Court today seemed to clearly indicate that the Second Amendment provides an individual right to possess a firearm and several justices appeared skeptical about whether the District of Columbia's handgun ban could be considered a reasonable restriction on that right.


washingtonpost

Here is the MyNews link

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080318/D8VG2PR00.html

I jumped up and yelled 'Woohoo!' (its my texan blood)

[ALS]

In addition to the handgun ban, Washington also has a trigger lock requirement for other guns that raised some concerns Tuesday.

"When you hear somebody crawling in your bedroom window, you can run to your gun, unlock it, load it and then fire?" Justice Antonin Scalia said.

Roberts, who has two young children, suggested at one point that trigger locks might be reasonable.

"There is always a risk that the children will get up and grab the firearm and use it for some purpose other than what the Second Amendment was designed to protect," he said.

On the other hand, he, too, wondered about the practical effect of removing a lock in an emergency. "So then you turn on the lamp, you pick up your reading glasses," Roberts said to laughter.

You have to love these two

[NoHackrLtd]

You have to love Justice Scalia:

From the transcript:

"JUSTICE SCALIA: I don't see how there's any, any, any contradiction between reading the second clause as a -- as a personal guarantee and reading the first one as assuring the existence of a militia, not necessarily a State-managed militia because the militia that resisted the British was not State- managed. But why isn't it perfectly plausible, indeed reasonable, to assume that since the framers knew that the way militias were destroyed by tyrants in the past was not by passing a law against militias, but by taking away the people's weapons -- that was the way militias were destroyed. The two clauses go together beautifully: Since we need a militia, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. (bolding is mine)

How much better can it be said? Those words sum it up so beautifully, it should be framed on gold (even at the current price!)

Thanks, nineSeven, for posting the transcript - rep points sent your way!

[NineseveN]

Originally Posted by RugerNiner

I don't know why it wasn't brought up that it would be inconceivable to think that 9 of the original Amendments undeniably point to an individuals rights and that one Amendment is reserved for a collective group.

Actually I believe it was if you look through the transcript. I don't have the quote handy though, sorry.

[NoHackrLtd]

Link from our friend Tom Gresham's "Gun Talk" - .mp3 downloadable podcast of the oral arguments.

Podcast from Gun Talk Radio of the DC - v - Heller oral arguments

[larrymeyer]

March 17, 2008
PRESS RELEASE FROM C-SPAN
Chief Justice Roberts Approves Immediate Release of Oral Argument For District of Columbia v. Heller

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Tuesday, March 18, 2008, C-SPAN will air the Supreme Court oral argument of District of Columbia v. Heller which the Court is scheduled to hear that day. The immediate release of the audio recording of the Court's argument was in response to a request by C-SPAN Release time is approximately 11:15 A.M.).

The Court will make the recording available to the media soon after the conclusion of the oral argument. The oral argument will air on C-SPAN, and C-SPAN Radio as soon as it is released. The audio recording will also be archived online at www.c-span.org on the “America and the Courts” page.

NOTE: Go to www.c-span.org tomorrow. This event should be on the home page.

[PisnNapalm]

A little late to the party..... Listened to it today.

[RugerNiner]

I know it's getting rebroadcast two more times but I'll be damned if I can find the schedule.

I'm pretty sure the second broadcast will be on Saturday, possibly 2pm.