Reply #147: You want court decisions? We got court decisions.

[jgraz]

"Since the Second Amendment right 'to keep and bear arms' applies only to the right of the state to maintain a militia, and not to the individual's right to bear arms, there can be no serious claim to any express constitutional right of an individual to possess a firearm." (Stevens v. U.S., United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 1971).

"Construing according to its plain meaning, it seems clear that the right to bear arms is inextricably connected to the preservation of a militia . . . We conclude that the right to keep and bear handguns is not guaranteed by the Second Amendment." (Quilici v. Village of Morton Grove, U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit, 1982)

"Making a firearm without approval may be subject to criminal sanction, as is possession of an unregistered firearm and failure to pay the tax on one, 26 U.S.C. 5861, 5871." (UNITED STATES, PETITIONER v. THOMPSON/CENTER ARMS COMPANY, on writ of certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the federal circuit, June 8, 1992)

"We follow our sister circuits in holding that the Second Amendment is a right held by the states and does not protect the possession of a weapon by a private citizen." (Hickman v. City of Los Angeles, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, April 5, 1996)

Parker v. D.C. flies in the face of all of these established precedents. Unfortunately, you gun nuts are now rooting for George Bush's Supreme Court to uphold this ridiculous decision. The NRA is even lobbying for the repeal of the D.C. gun ban so they don't have to gamble with bringing this ruling before the SCOTUS.