Legal News

Top Court Considers D.C. Handgun Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in a challenge to a District of Columbia ban on handgun ownership, a case that may impact gun ownership rights nationwide. (Read a transcript of oral arguments [PDF file]). The specific question before the Court in Heller v. District of Columbia is whether the Second Amendment forbids the District of Columbia from banning private possession of handguns while allowing possession of rifles and shotguns. The Los Angeles Times reports that the case has drawn national attention "because the Court may decide for the first time whether gun rights are truly protected by the Constitution, like the right to free speech and the right to freely practice one's religion." A Washington Post article finds that there is little in the public record to predict how the nine U.S. Supreme Court Justices will vote on proper interpretation of the Second Amendment. The Court is expected to issue a decision on the case by the end of June.

• Read a Transcript of Oral Arguments (U.S. Supreme Court) [PDF file]
• Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to D.C. Gun Law (Los Angeles Times)
• A Scant Public Record (Washington Post)
• The Second Amendment Annotated (FindLaw)
• U.S. Supreme Court Center (FindLaw)

Full post as published by FindLaw's Common Law on March 17, 2008 (boomark / email).