DC v. Heller Decision

[fullautovalmet76]

As a variation on what someone posted earlier, here is the press release from the Department of Justice:

"Statement of Brian Roehrkasse, Director of Public Affairs, on Reaction to the Supreme Court's Decision in District of Columbia V. Heller

"The Department is pleased with the Court’s ruling recognizing that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess firearms, including for private purposes unrelated to militia operations. The Court’s ruling is in accordance with the text of the Second Amendment, historical practice, and the Attorney General's 2001 guidance on the scope of the Second Amendment. The Department is also pleased that the Court recognized that, like other constitutional rights, that individual right is ‘not unlimited.’ Thus, the Court appropriately made clear that nothing in today’s ruling casts doubt on the constitutionality of ‘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.’ In addition, the Court appropriately recognized that the ‘carrying of dangerous and unusual weapons,’ such as machine guns, is not protected by the Amendment. The Justice Department is studying the decision but, as was made clear in its 2001 guidance recognizing that the Second Amendment protects an individual right, the Department ‘will continue to defend vigorously the constitutionality, under the Second Amendment, of all existing federal firearms laws.’"

As an owner of a few NFA firearms and related items, I find this release very alarming. What I sense is the DOJ may be examining ways to outlaw the possession and sale of machineguns that were made before 5/19/86. I understand this issue came up during the 30's and the Court ruled then that it was unconstitutional to ban them, so I am not sure how they think they can pull this off now.

I will say that if they succeed in the banning and the confiscation of these guns, they will have ample precedent to take the next class of firearms- semiautomatic firearms. It will start with banning "assault" weapons and then it will progress to magazine capacities and calibers.

We all need to be vigilant in defense of our freedom......

[CDR]

Can anyone please provide an update on the DC v. Heller decision with respect to the DC Police Chief's original comments that semi auto handguns would not be permitted in DC regardless of the Supreme Court decision.  She made these comments outside the courthouse moments after the decision was announced.  It essentially allows only revolvers in DC and is an absolutely outrageous interpretation of the decision.  I'm curious as I haven't heard much about how the law is actually being applied months later.  I would assume numerous appeals, led by Dick Heller, are to follow if semi autos continue to be banned by a police chief who needs to be replaced.

Thanks.

[1776 Rebel]

CDR, as you can imagine there are a number of spin off lawsuits from the Heller case. If you want to keep up with Dick Heller make sure you have your running shoes on ! He ain't letting 'em off the hook, and has several more lawsuits in the courts againist DC. Here is his website...

http://www.hellerfoundation.org/

Alan Gura (the attorney for Dick Heller that took it to the SCOTUS) has moved on from what I can see to the Chicago gun case and his website is here:

http://www.chicagoguncase.com/

Finally Stephen Halbrook is representing Heller now (I believe on his various new lawsuits) and his website it here:

http://www.stephenhalbrook.com/

[CDR]

CDR, as you can imagine there are a number of spin off lawsuits from the Heller case. If you want to keep up with Dick Heller make sure you have your running shoes on ! He ain't letting 'em off the hook, and has several more lawsuits in the courts againist DC. Here is his website...

http://www.hellerfoundation.org/

Alan Gura (the attorney for Dick Heller that took it to the SCOTUS) has moved on from what I can see to the Chicago gun case and his website is here:

http://www.chicagoguncase.com/

Finally Stephen Halbrook is representing Heller now (I believe on his various new lawsuits) and his website it here:

http://www.stephenhalbrook.com/

Thanks Rebel for the great links....very informative.

Perusing through the latest Dick Heller suit against DC only confirms my belief that the DC Chief of Police needs to be removed.  The numerous denied DC gun applicants since the SCOTUS decision have been so denied due to the fact that DC is defining ALL semi automatic guns, pistols included, as "assault weapons" with the exception of the pistols used by the USA Olympic Team....   Even more remarkably, the definition of "assault weapon" is defined as any weapon this abortion of a public servant feels presents a public safety risk.  She decides what an assault weapon is....period...no one else.  You can't make this up.

I'm at a loss for words at the violations and assault being perpetrated on our Constitution.