Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Gun Ruling a Sea Change for 2nd Amendment

Supreme Court's 5-4 decision "takes certain policy choices off the table"

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 26, 2008 2:28 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – The Supreme Court’s decision today striking down Washington's handgun ban represented a change in interpreting the Second Amendment. The court’s 5-4 vote split down partisan lines, the Post reports, with Justices Scalia, Roberts, Kennedy, Thomas, and Alito in opposition to Stevens, Souter, Ginsburg, and Breyer. "The enshrinement of constitutional rights necessarily takes certain policy choices off the table," Scalia wrote.

The ruling is not absolute; Scalia’s opinion makes clear that some regulation of firearms is permissible and necessary. "One should not expect it to clarify the entire field," the opinion continues. Dissenter Stevens, in arguing that the Court broke the precedent that the amendment applied only to military arms, countered: "This court should stay out of that political thicket."

This court should stay out of that political thicket, Justice John Paul Stevens (front row, second from left) said of the Supreme Court's ruling on guns.
"This court should stay out of that political thicket," Justice John Paul Stevens (front row, second from left) said of the Supreme Court's ruling on guns.   (AP Photo)
Justice Antonin Scalia was joined by fellow conservatives John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Anthony Kennedy in today's Supreme Court ruling on guns.
Justice Antonin Scalia was joined by fellow conservatives John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas and Anthony Kennedy in today's Supreme Court ruling on guns.   (AP Photo)
The absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home is one of the certain policy choices off the table under the Supreme Court's ruling, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote.
"The absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home" is one of the "certain policy choices off the table" under the Supreme Court's ruling, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote.   (AP Photo)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

So what does this mean for DC, in the short term?
Wall Street Journal

Justices enter the gun control debate
Economist

Candidates seize opportunity for pot shots
Talking Points Memo

 
Antonin Scalia • Washington DC • gun control • Second Amendment • US Supreme Court • Washington, DC • constitutional law

More Newser Stories

Court Hears Gun Case Today

DC's Handgun Ban Heads to Supreme Court

Gun Ruling Will Trigger Barrage of Lawsuits

Supremes Appear Set to KO DC's Handgun Ban

Supreme Court Will Hear Landmark Gun Case
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne