Today, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment secures an individual’s right to own firearms:
In sum, we hold that the District’s ban on handgun possession in the home violates the Second Amendment, as does its prohibition against rendering any lawful firearm in the home operable for the purpose of immediate self-defense. Assuming that Heller is not disqualified from the exercise of Second Amendment rights, the District must permit him to register his handgun and must issue him a license to carry it in the home.
Yeah. I get to own a gun. But, a quick review of highlights from the opinion reveals problems. Here is the Court on the limits of their decision:
Although we do not undertake an exhaustive historical analysis today of the full scope of the Second Amendment, nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms.
This leaves in place all the back door prohibitions that make owning a gun for self-defense purposes nearly useless. The broad opening to selective bans is in the phrase “sensitive places such as schools and government buildings.” The list of places found to be “sensitive” is long and will grow. Already, government buildings and schools (as mentioned) are on the list, along with day cares, churches, parks and restaurants that serve alcohol. Look for that list to expand as politicians officially find that other places are “sensitive.” Most of the places were you might actually need the protection a handgun could afford are already off-limits. More will follow.
In practical terms, this means that I cannot carry adequate protection in the area I’m most likely to be the victim of a violent crime – leaving a bar or club. I frequently patronize drinking establishments on Church Street. Of late, this area has seen a car jacking, a store robbery and several car break-ins. My choices? Don’t go there or depend on the police to protect me. Not a wide array of options.
Where did we state in the constitution that we granted the government the authority to regulate ownership, possession or use of firearms by individuals?
