Was the Supreme Court Right About Second Amendment Gun Rights?

Is the Supreme Court decision correct?

By U.S. News Staff

June 28, 2010 RSS Feed Print

In a 5-to-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Second Amendment's right to bear arms applies to state and local gun control laws. Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said the Second Amendment should limit not only federal power but also the power of state and local governments. But Justice John Paul Stevens, in his dissent, said that the court should have proceeded more cautiously, and Justice Stephen Breyer (who also dissented) cited figures of 60,000 injuries and deaths caused by firearms each year. Thomas Jefferson Street blogger Bonnie Erbe calls it a "sad day in America."

What do you think? Should the Second Amendment be extended to the states? Or does it take too much power away from them to address local issues? Take our poll and post your thoughts below.

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Previously: Does BP CEO Tony Hayward Deserve a Break After Oil Spill?

Tags:
John Paul Stevens,
NRA,
Stephen Breyer,
Samuel Alito,
Supreme Court,
Second Amendment,
gun control and gun rights

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The restriction was placed against the Government so that they could not make laws abridging our inalienable Rights. This applies not only to the First amendment but to all of them. Why is it that some people think that the Bill of Rights is something that the government can take away or limit? What is it about the phrase that the right of the people shall not be infringed that is not understood?

Jeff of WI 6:17AM July 15, 2010

Militia is the operative word in the 2nd Amendment. This was intended for a "well regulated militia" during the Revolutionary War to guard against the Red Coats. We do not have Red Coats here anymore. The criminals are the police's problem. "Law-abiding" gun owners could become crazed and start shooting, kids could get hurt with them around the house, not to mention them killing themselves. Guns for protection is hardly an excuse for owning one. Unless this weapon is cocked and ready at all times, it doesn't serve this purpose. We have heard of armed guards getting overpowered by goons. I suggest it is easier to rid this inanimate object from citizens' hands rather than the other way around. Guns do more harm than good.

Wil Salcedo of PA 9:13AM July 13, 2010

Those that propose that the Second Amendment enables

restrictions on gun ownership are wrong as are states and cities that seek to restrict or make highly difficult a law-abiding citizen owning a gun. Note the adjective law-abiding. Certainly, the general populace, including me, does not want known felons legally owning guns. But, to blanket restrict all persons from owning guns is equally wrong. I have the right to protect myself and my family at home and in our car from those persons that would rob, steal, car-jack, and commit other heinous crimes with total impunity just because I cannot have a gun at home or on my person. Apparently, the whining liberals, mainly Democrats, believe that the society trash will respect others' right to be left alone and not robbed, etc. They continue their doom-and-gloom about how many guns are owned in this country. Well, we who have at least a chance to protect outselves from society's trash will have the chance to see the sun in the morning compared to those who have no option other than to be shot dead by society's garbage.

Gerald Gibson of TX 6:52PM July 02, 2010

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