Supreme Court Sound Bites

Sound Bite: Facts of the case District of Columbia law - bans handgun possession, by making it a crime to carry an unregistered firearm, and prohibiting the registration of handguns; provides separately that no person may carry an unlicensed handgun, but authorizes the police chief to issue 1-year licenses; and requires residents to keep lawfully[...]

Sound Bite: Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever, in any manner whatsoever, and for whatever purpose:  For example, concealed weapons prohibitions have been upheld under the Amendment, or state[...]

Sound Bite: The handgun ban and the trigger-lock requirement, (as applied to self-defense), violate the Second Amendment. The handgun ban and the trigger-lock requirement, (as applied to self-defense), violate the Second Amendment. The District’s total ban on handgun possession in the home, amounts to a prohibition on an entire class of “arms” that Americans overwhelmingly[...]

Sound Bite: The “militia” comprised all males physically capable of acting in concert for the common defense. The Second Amendment’s prefatory clause announces a purpose, but does not limit or expand the scope of the second part, the operative clause. The operative clause’s text and history - demonstrate that it connotes an individual right to[...]

Sound Bite: Holding The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home.