Supreme Courts Uphold Right to Keep and Bear Arms

"The Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditional lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home." - Supreme Court of the United States, June 26, 2008, DC v Heller ruling.

Canticle for Liebowitz:

In an eagerly anticipated and strongly worded decision, Justice Antonin Scalia this morning led the Supreme Court to discover and define the Second Amendment as a guarantee of an individual's right to own firearms.

In a stunning but narrow 5-4 rebuke to liberal dogma of the past 30 years, where penumbras carried more weight than words, SCOTUS has confirmed what is known as the standard view of the amendment, that it means what it says.

SCOTUS blog links to the ruling itself and comments:

Answering a 127-year old constitutional question, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to have a gun, at least in one’s home. The Court, splitting 5-4, struck down a District of Columbia ban on handgun possession. Although times have changed since 1791, Justice Antonin Scalia said for the majority, “it is not the role of this Court to pronounce the Second Amendment extinct.”

Examining the words of the Amendment, the Court concluded “we find they guarantee the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation” — in other words, for self-defense. “The inherent right of self-defense has been central to the Second Amendment right,” it added.

Weekly Standard says Second Amendment victory.

Malkin has more. Notes Justice Breyer dissented, joined by Justices Stevens, Souter and Ginsburg. Obama's model Justices voted against RKBA. Obama camp now backtracking on previous report that said in late 2007: "Obama believes the D.C. handgun law is constitutional."

Today's affirmation of the Consitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a victory for freedom and our civil and inherent rights. Thank you, Nino!