SUPREME COURT: OPEN SEASON ON GUN LAWS

SUPREME COURT: OPEN SEASON ON GUN LAWS
By Richard Sisk

The Supreme Court knocked down Chicago’s ban on handguns
yesterday and cleared the way for gun rights groups to file suit
against New York’s City’s tough laws on who can keep and carry.

The initial reaction of Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) to the 5-4
ruling by the Supreme Court on 2nd Amendment rights was that
“I am hopeful that it will not require New York to change any of its gun laws.”

But “this is probably not the final word,” said John Velleco,
director of federal affairs for Gun Owners of America.

“This is probably the beginning of many new lawsuits.
We’re looking at that in New York City, Massachusetts,
California — many of the places that have super-restrictive laws.”

Other gun rights groups have said that they would file suit
targeting New York City’s lengthy and difficult process for getting a handgun permit.

In its ruling, the Court held that the 2nd Amendment’s
right to keep and bear arms was binding on the states.

“Self defense is a basic right, recognized by many legal systems
from ancient times to the present day,” said Justice Samuel Alito
in his majority opinion.

But Alito gave Mayor Bloomberg and others wiggle room to
defend against a promised barrage of lawsuits.

Alito said the 2nd Amendment “limits (but by no means
eliminates) their ability to devise solutions to social problems that suit local needs and values.”

Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justices Anthony Kennedy,
Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas backed Alito.

Voting in the minority were Associate Justices Sonia Sotomayor,
John Paul Stevens, Stephen Breyer and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.