Thursday, June 26, 2008
HOORAY!!! SCOTUS on HELLER!
The best news I’ve heard in a long time!
The Supreme Court has issued its ruling in District of Columbia et al. v. Heller, and affirmed that the Second Amendment indeed protects an individual right to keep and bear arms. This is a very important result. The most fundamental individual rights are those of life, liberty and property, including the ability to protect them. This decision effectively overturns Federal bans on private ownership of firearms, and will make it much more difficult for the Federal, state, and local governments to disarm and oppress us. The majority opinion is extremely informative and well worth reading.
Self-defense is both a natural right and a responsibility. As I’ve noted before, no one is entitled to police protection by law. (I quoted Justice Stevens on this, and his point was noncontroversial. See the 5 June 2005 post on Castle Rock v. Gonzales.) The responsibility for self defense falls on the citizens, as it should. And government has no just power to prevent us from doing so.
It’s hard to understand the opposing view that holds that the Second Amendment guarantees the government the "right" to arm itself, "mad hatter logic" as the majority puts it. But this important decision comes none too soon, given that we are likely soon to have a Congress brim-full of mad hatters.
So, three cheers for the majority! And more importantly, heartfelt thank yous to Heller, Levy, Tom Palmer, and the other champions of liberty who took this case to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has issued its ruling in District of Columbia et al. v. Heller, and affirmed that the Second Amendment indeed protects an individual right to keep and bear arms. This is a very important result. The most fundamental individual rights are those of life, liberty and property, including the ability to protect them. This decision effectively overturns Federal bans on private ownership of firearms, and will make it much more difficult for the Federal, state, and local governments to disarm and oppress us. The majority opinion is extremely informative and well worth reading.
Self-defense is both a natural right and a responsibility. As I’ve noted before, no one is entitled to police protection by law. (I quoted Justice Stevens on this, and his point was noncontroversial. See the 5 June 2005 post on Castle Rock v. Gonzales.) The responsibility for self defense falls on the citizens, as it should. And government has no just power to prevent us from doing so.
It’s hard to understand the opposing view that holds that the Second Amendment guarantees the government the "right" to arm itself, "mad hatter logic" as the majority puts it. But this important decision comes none too soon, given that we are likely soon to have a Congress brim-full of mad hatters.
So, three cheers for the majority! And more importantly, heartfelt thank yous to Heller, Levy, Tom Palmer, and the other champions of liberty who took this case to the Supreme Court.
