Worth a quick read. 2nd amendment basically on trial at the Supreme Court level. It's about Washington DC's handgun ban but a ruling could make waves across the country.
GUN BAN ARTICLE
GUN BAN ARTICLE
+1 could not have said it better myself.This is going to be the Roe vs. Wade for the 2nd Amendment.
I believe that the 14th, 2nd, and 9th Amendments will uphold our rights as gun owners. Here is a statement from a former Supreme Court judge regarding the 9th Amendment's powers.
"[T]he Framers did not intend that the first eight amendments be construed to exhaust the basic and fundamental rights.... I do not mean to imply that the .... Ninth Amendment constitutes an independent source of rights protected from infringement by either the States or the Federal Government....While the Ninth Amendment - and indeed the entire Bill of Rights - originally concerned restrictions upon federal power, the subsequently enacted Fourteenth Amendment prohibits the States as well from abridging fundamental personal liberties. And, the Ninth Amendment, in indicating that not all such liberties are specifically mentioned in the first eight amendments, is surely relevant in showing the existence of other fundamental personal rights, now protected from state, as well as federal, infringement."
This is the 2nd Amendment:
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
This is the 9th Amendment:
"The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."
This is the 14th Amendment:
"No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States"
If this is not ruled in our favor then the Supreme Court should be hung for treason, and all that approved it in Congress should already have been sacked for the blaspheme against the Law of the Land.
http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/
Chief Justice Roberts asks why the Framers would refer to "the right of the people" if the Second Amendment was not intended to protect an individual right.
Each justice writes up an opinion to be filed and published. Im actually surprised to hear it will be that soon.Just heard on Fox news that it will be June before we find out what they decide?
"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence ... The very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that is good"
George Washington
"And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms....The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants"
Thomas Jefferson
"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined"
Patrick Henry
"The strongest reason for people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government."
Thomas Jefferson
"No Free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."
Thomas Jefferson
"...to disarm the people - that was the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
"the ultimate authority ... resides in the people alone,"
James Madison
"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom of Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the United States"
Noah Webster
"Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American... The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state government, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people"
Tench Coxe
"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for few public officials."
George Mason
"The Constitution shall never be construed....to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms"
Samuel Adams
"To prohibit a citizen from wearing or carrying a war arm . . . is an unwarranted restriction upon the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of constitutional privilege."
[Wilson v. State, 33 Ark. 557, at 560, 34 Am. Rep. 52, at 54 (1878)]
"The provision in the Constitution granting the right to all persons to bear arms is a limitation upon the power of the Legislature to enact any law to the contrary. The exercise of a right guaranteed by the Constitution cannot be made subject to the will of the sheriff."
[People vs. Zerillo, 219 Mich. 635, 189 N.W. 927, at 928 (1922)]
"The maintenance of the right to bear arms is a most essential one to every free people and should not be whittled down by technical constructions."
[State vs. Kerner, 181 N.C. 574, 107 S.E. 222, at 224 (1921)]
"The right of a citizen to bear arms, in lawful defense of himself or the State, is absolute. He does not derive it from the State government. It is one of the "high powers" delegated directly to the citizen, and 'is excepted out of the general powers of government.' A law cannot be passed to infringe upon or impair it, because it is above the law, and independent of the lawmaking power."
[Cockrum v. State, 24 Tex. 394, at 401-402 (1859)
From what I've heard the SCOTUS will make a ruling on 6/10/08. I think 11:30 ET.