http://edition.cnn.com/2008/US/06/26/scotus.guns/index.html
Also, here's some reaction to the decision.........
(AP) Reactions to the Supreme Court striking down the DC gun ban
By The Associated Press
Some reaction to the Supreme Court's ruling Thursday that Americans have a
right to own guns for self-defense and hunting:
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"I'm thrilled I am now able to defend myself and my household in my home." _
Dick Heller, who sued the District of Columbia after it rejected his
application to keep a handgun at his home for protection.
___
"More handguns in the District of Columbia will only lead to more handgun
violence." _ Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty.
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"The president strongly agrees with the Supreme Court's historic decision today
that the Second Amendment protects the individual right of Americans to keep
and bear arms. This has been the Administration's long-held view. The President
is also pleased that the Court concluded that the DC firearm laws violate that
right." _ White House press secretary Dana Perino.
___
"While it ruled that the D.C. gun ban went too far, Justice Scalia himself
acknowledged that this right is not absolute and subject to reasonable
regulations enacted by local communities to keep their streets safe. Today's
ruling ... will provide much-needed guidance to local jurisdictions across the
country." _ Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.
___
"This is a great moment in American history. It vindicates individual Americans
all over this country who have always known that this is their freedom worth
protecting." _ Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle
Association.
___
"They (Supreme Court justices) live in safe neighborhoods. They don't have
this. ... Until it's their family member, they're going to keep voting that
way." _ Annette Nance-Holt, whose son was shot in Chicago as he rode a bus home
from school in May.
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"This opinion should usher in a new era in which the constitutionality of
government regulations of firearms are reviewed against the backdrop of this
important right." _ Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt.
___
"We're shown time and time again how many children have been killed in their
homes by guns. ... The only thing it's gonna do is increase your taxes. More
police. More hospitalization. More victims of violence." _ Chicago Mayor
Richard Daley.
___
"I think this is a long overdue decision; I don't think the precedent has been
seriously reaffirmed in decades." _ Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis.
___
"I am profoundly disappointed in Justice Roberts and Justice Alito, both of
whom assured us of their respect for precedent. With this decision, 70 years of
precedent has gone out the window. And I believe the people of this great
country will be less safe because of it." _ Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
___
"Let's be honest about it. This is an actual, enumerated right in the
Constitution." _ Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
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"This decision's going to say to these guys that it's OK to have guns _ that's
the message the street gets from this ... If you take this ruling the wrong
way, everybody and their mother's going to go out and get a gun." _ Tio
Hardiman, of the Chicago violence prevention group Cease Fire.
___
"Today's ruling is a major victory for the rights of all Americans to protect
themselves and their families. The Supreme Court sent a clear message to local,
state, and federal governments that this individual right cannot be
unreasonably infringed." _ Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas.
___
"Today, President Bush's radical Supreme Court justices put rigid ideology
ahead of the safety of communities in New Jersey and across the country. This
decision illustrates why I have strongly opposed extremist judicial nominees
and will continue to do so in the future." _ Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J.
___
"In the most significant victory for the Second Amendment in recent memory, the
Supreme Court today reaffirmed our citizens' constitutional right to keep and
bear arms. ... This decision should send a clear message to opponents of the
Second Amendment. The Constitution plainly guarantees the solemn right to keep
and bear arms, and the whims of politically correct bureaucrats cannot take it
away." _ House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio.
___
"While this is a clear victory for those who live in Washington, D.C., it's my
hope what was decided here today projects a powerful new precedent for judges
to follow across the country." _ Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.
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"As someone who works in Washington during the week, I'm relieved that I can
now defend myself in my own apartment without fearing a knock on the door from
the local police," Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga.
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