Thursday, June 26, 2008

HELLER AFFIRMED



UPDATE: OPINION HERE

UPDATE: Door left open for infringements (you knew they would):
f) None of the Court’s precedents forecloses the Court’s interpretation. Neither United States v. Cruikshank, 92 U. S. 542, 553, nor Presser v. Illinois, 116 U. S. 252, 264–265, refutes the individual rights interpretation. United States v. Miller, 307 U. S. 174, does not limit the right to keep and bear arms to militia purposes, but rather limits the type of weapon to which the right applies to those used by the militia, i.e., those in common use for lawful purposes. Pp. 47–54.

2. Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose: For example, concealed weapons prohibitions have been upheld under the Amendment or state analogues. The Court’s opinion should not 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. Miller’s holding that the sorts of weapons protected are those “in common use at the time” finds support in the historical tradition of prohibiting the carrying of dangerous and unusual weapons.
UPDATE: Chicago next?
3. The handgun ban and the trigger-lock requirement (as applied to self-defense) violate the Second Amendment.
UPDATE: Licensing and registration not deemed infringements (technically, "not addressed"):
Because Heller conceded at oral argument that the D. C. licensing law is permissible if it is not enforced arbitrarily and capriciously, the Court assumes that a license will satisfy his prayer for relief and does not address the licensing requirement. Assuming he is not disqualified from exercising Second Amendment rights, the District must permit Heller to register his handgun and must issue him a license to carry it in the home. Pp. 56–64.

UPDATE: Personal comments:

This is pretty much the outcome most of us expected--an individual rights ruling that leaves the door open for gun control--although at what level remains to be seen. I'm no lawyer and will be interested in seeing what people in the know have to say, but my untutored read on this says the scrutiny question has been dodged.

The other thing that immediately sticks out for me is this business of not addressing licensing and registration--theoretically, that leaves such laws open to future challenge--but here's the thing--there's nothing that says a future court needs to hear such a challenge, and I would expect them to not touch this with a 10-foot pole.

There's one other thing I've been meaning to say, but held off pending the decision: If this had been left up to our "leaders" at the NRA, specifically Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox, we would not have this ruling.

This case was not initiatedby NRA, and in fact the Association and some well-know names in 2A legal circles attempted to derail it. NRA did not join until after it was clear things were going forward.

We would have been facing the strong potential for an Obama presidency and democrat congress with no ruling, and the almost certain liklihood that new Supreme Court appointments would significantly alter the composition of the court's narrow 5-4 pro-individual rights contingent.

Fairfax apologists can go ahead and accuse me of "attacking" NRA, but it's the truth and they know it. And it's a hell of a thing for any serious gun rights activist to come to grips with.

UPDATE:
Brady Campaign
Our fight to enact sensible gun laws will be undiminished by the Supreme Court’s decision in the Heller case.
Because if we could admit we were wrong, we wouldn't be fanatics.

Violence Policy Center:
...Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has done his part to make sure that, at least in the U.S., the future for his gun industry friends and their lobbying pals is a little bit brighter.
Hell hath no fury...

UPDATE: Guess who agrees with me about Chicago?

UPDATE: Mr. Hardy skims some key points--as always, good insights.

UPDATE: Fenty Foolishness [This update link via Zachary G] :
*First, all firearms must be registered with the Metropolitan Police Department’s Firearms Registration Section before they may be lawfully possessed.

*Second, automatic and semiautomatic handguns generally remain illegal and may not be registered.

*Third, the Supreme Court’s ruling is limited to handguns in the home and does not entitle anyone to carry firearms outside his or her own home...
We knew that, but it's important to hear it from him just so we can see that he's intent on infringing as much as possible. I'd also look at the DC administration to drag their feet to the brink of stonewalling. SCOTUS will be out until October and I'd look at Fenty & Co. to take full advantage of that.

But here's the part that demonstrates what absurd theater this is more than anything I could say:
In addition, although the Court struck the safe storage provision on the ground that it was too broadly written, firearms at home should be kept either unloaded and disassembled or else locked except for use in self-defense in emergencies.
I call on Mayor Fenty to physically demonstrate what that would look like. Any bets on whether any of the "Authorized Journalists" with access to him will press him in a public forum on just how the hell someone would be able to protect themself that way?

UPDATE: This is troubling, pointed out by Uncivil Defense from the footnote on pg. 48 (see "Opinion" link, above):
Our later decisions in Presser v. Illinois, 116 U. S. 252, 265 (1886) and Miller v. Texas, 153 U. S. 535, 538 (1894), reaffirmed that the Second Amendment applies only to the Federal Government.

UPDATE: Yep--expect this to be one of the anti's major new rallying points:
City officials expressed confidence the city would prevail in any court challenge, asserting, among other things, that the 2nd Amendment as part of the Bill of Rights restricts the federal government and does not apply to state and local governments.
Before, it was there's no individual right. Now it's there is, but it doesn't apply to what we can do.
If that's upheld in a liberal appeals venue, SCOTUS would need to agree to hear another 2A case to get it resolved.

Obama or Die

Good grief.

I prefer this slogan, Puffy:


[Flag image via Sons of the Revolution]

Return of the Jedi

Lucas did, however, have one definitive answer: Barack Obama would most certainly be a Jedi. “I would say that’s reasonably obvious,” he said.

Well, the guy does know Jedi mind tricks, and he is nitwit George's hero...

Whew, comments are getting brutal:

American Idol

The idea of sending an idol of Hanuman dawned on him after friends in the United States mentioned a “prominent American politician who carried a miniature Hanuman idol in his pocket for luck,” Mr. Bhama said speaking on the first day of the ceremony on Tuesday.
That's our Lightworker!

I'd like to send him a graven image, too, but I can't decide between Ba'al, Dagon or a Golden Calf...

I know he's already got one of these...

Lies, Damned Lies and Spotty Statistics

100-square-miles...680,000 residents...80 and 150 gunfire incidents...60 to 80 percent...thirty-five percent...221% more gunfire incidents than reported by citizens...two minutes and fifteen seconds faster...700,000 citizens protected...Series D equity funding totaling $7.5 million...deployed in 30 cities...

You know what number is missing from all this?

"One."

As in "one crime solved" or "one shooting prevented" that is verifiably attributable to SpotShotter.

What a waste of resources. But I'm sure somebody's making money. Not that I would imply urban government officials approving such purchases haven't historically exhibited the highest ethical standards...

AHSA MEMBERSHIP PLUMMETS!

Down from 25,000 to 1,000 in Less than Two Months!

Pushed hard by skeptical writers in the audience, Schoenke declined to say how many members AHSA had, but said that more than a thousand members paid membership dues in the past year.
But...but...but it was just mid-May when Annette John-Hall told us:
Vernick's opinion is shared by the 25,000 members of the American Hunters and Shooters Association, a new organization created to bring reason back to the gun issue.
And her source was none other than that font of veracity, Judas Bob!

And let's not forget that Bill Schneider has had ample information provided to him to know the truth about AHSA, including from his reader comments.

So many credible people! Who can we believe?

Wading Through Tyranny

A Queens dad trying to beat the heat at Rockaway Beach was arrested and hauled off in handcuffs - while his family and friends looked on - for wading ankle-deep, into the water.

Let me get this straight--it wasn't safe because all the Aqua Teen "Only Ones" were still in school?

But...but...what could "authorities" have done?

Oh, gee, I don't know...


If only average people were competent enough to wade. Thank goodness we have water control laws, and public servants to enforce them! And if you and I can't be trusted with the substance that covers 2/3 of the planet's surface, wouldn't it be insane to let us get our hands on guns?

Just remember: They hate us because we're free!

I wonder what the cops would have done if a fed up citizen, sick and tired of all the stupid rules and being told what to do, had waded in and joined the man, followed by another and then another...?

That could be an interesting metaphor. I wonder who would be the ones to find themselves up to their necks in it, and ultimately in over their heads?

Welcome to the Monkey House

Spanish parliament to extend rights to apes...
Well, then, there's no real reason why we shouldn't be seeing this:


When asked for comment, Koko and Bobo threw feces and bit their trainer. Which, when you think of the gall of these rulers, and what this must say about their opinion of their subjects, is actually an appropriate response.

The Barrett Solution

Schwarzenegger Banned from Local Cigar Shop

Good for them.

I once bought cigars from that shop on a business trip to Sacramento--I wish now I'd taken the time to strike up a conversation.

Sure be nice if gun and ammo manufacturers would follow the lead of businesses like Tower Pipe & Cigars and Barrett Rifles.

I can't help but wonder if "green" Arnold uses space heaters to keep his balcony smoking tent tolerable in the winter months, or if he and his cronies huddle in the cold like smokers at private California establishments are forced to do.

Sympathy for the Lightworker*

Obama Moves To Reintroduce Himself to Voters
Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste...

*

Thug Mike

Jurors heard wiretaps of McGee, including one where he called himself “Thug Mike.”
Welcome to the Third World kleptocracy of Milwaukee, which runs itself pretty much like Detroit, Chicago, Philadelphia, Mogadishu...
You can get the complete lowdown on complete lowdown Alderman Mike McGee here.

Naturally, with criminals running the place, the non-criminals paying for everything, that is, the victims, may not bear arms.

And naturally, Thug Mike is a great fan of "gun buybacks," which makes sense when you recall that gun buybacks create crime.

Further evidence of the success of the shakedown effort by the city against its citizens can be found in this new development:
Milwaukee police officers participating in a privately funded anti-crime program targeting part of the city's south side began conducting additional foot and bike patrols today, according to a news release from Ald. Bob Donovan.

District 6 police officers will volunteer to patrol one of five zones within the target area, ideally on foot or a bicycle, and will be paid overtime for doing so with funds donated to Operation Impact by Milwaukee businesses and foundations, Donovan said while unveiling the program earlier this month.
"Operation Impact." Apt name for a protection racket that basically tells business owners they haven't been paying enough.

Nice place you got here. Shame if something happened to it...

The Inevitable "I'll be Damned" Moment

“All the horror stories I thought would come to pass didn't happen.”

A nice compilation of quotes from people in law enforcement who came to accept reality...

[Overwhelmed lately--if I owe someone a tip credit, I apologize]

This Day in History: June 26

This space reserved for Supreme Court announcement. You can access LiveBlog here.