Location: The Heritage Foundation's Allison Auditorium
On March 18, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear
the District of Columbia's appeal in District of Columbia v.
Heller, a case that struck down DC's almost complete ban on the
effective use of handguns, rifles, and shotguns for self defense in
private homes. This marks the first time since 1939 that the
Supreme Court will rule on a Second Amendment challenge to a
firearm law. The Court's decision will have broad ramifications
because it likely will decide, once and for all, whether the Second
Amendment protects the individual rights of all Americans to keep
guns in their homes or only protects an organized militia's right
to possess guns that Congress authorizes.
Like the rest of the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment was
proposed to the States by the Congress in 1789. On several
occasions, the Congress enacted statutes which explicitly declared
its understanding of the Second Amendment as guaranteeing
fundamental, individual rights. The Congress has a long history of
protecting the right of the people to keep and bear arms and has a
fundamental interest in protecting the constitutional rights of the
American people.
More About the Speakers
Featuring
The Honorable
Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)
Member, United States Senate
The Honorable
Jon Tester (D-MT)
Member, United States Senate
Hosted By
Edwin J. Feulner, Ph.D.
Founder
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