June 26, 2008
Supreme Court Rules That Individuals Have Gun Rights
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 10:16 a.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court says Americans have a right to own guns for self-defense and hunting, the justices' first major pronouncement on gun rights in U.S. history.

The court's 5-4 ruling strikes down the District of Columbia's 32-year-old ban on handguns as incompatible with gun rights under the Second Amendment. The decision goes further than even the Bush administration wanted, but probably leaves most firearms laws intact.

The court had not conclusively interpreted the Second Amendment since its ratification in 1791. The amendment reads: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

The basic issue for the justices was whether the amendment protects an individual's right to own guns no matter what, or whether that right is somehow tied to service in a state militia.

Finally, now DC has a chance at lowering its crime rates.

Anybody that thought taking a small area like DC and banning hand guns was for the good of the people living there should now promptly get their head out of the sand.

Bravo

Will you be packin', Alice?

Located next to the Handguns-R-Us state of Virginia, it's hard to imagine the law kept any handguns out of DC in the first place-- absent metal detectors at every entry point to the city.

I already own some guns, through my husband's grandfather who was an avid collector; derringer, pepperpot, Navy Colt pistols, Browning over and under, and a neat Winchester 1873 rifle, lots of other WWII hand guns. Also have some old bullett making molds, powder horns and stuff. As for the modern guns, I haven't bought and and wouldn't consider it without proper safety and training courses. My husband used to hunt, so he knows his way around a shotgun.

Freekin ammo is getting so expensive it's ridiculous. My ammo bill for Wyoming was $430!

Maybe you'll learn to aim better

Wow, who knew boating and firearms were such expensive sports?

That's nothing compared to boating with firearms!