Cheney Signs SCOTUS Brief for End to D.C. Firearms Ban

[Pathfinder]

Good for him.

AP article as reported at FoxNews here: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,330171,00.html

WASHINGTON —  Vice President Cheney took the unusual step Friday of joining with lawmakers in signing a Supreme Court brief that goes further in support of gun rights than the one submitted by the Bush administration.

The filings were made in a case that challenges the District of Columbia's ban on handguns. It was scheduled to be argued on March 18.

Both briefs argue that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to own guns. However, the administration contends that too categorical a ruling could threaten other federal gun restrictions and wants the justices to send the case back to lower courts without deciding whether the handgun ban should fall.

Cheney joined more than 300 senators and representatives, led by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, who want the court to rule that Washington's ban is unconstitutional.

"The vice president believes strongly in Second Amendment rights," Cheney spokeswoman Megan Mitchell said.

Seventeen Democratic lawmakers and District of Columbia Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton urged the court to uphold the ban.

Lawyers with long experience at the court could not recall another case in which a vice president took a position different from that of his own administration.

[MikeBjerum]

Politics are driving me nuts already.

I applaud VP Cheney for going out on a political limb and signing this.

I have watched some of what Pres. Bush has done lately and thought he was taking advantage of being a "lame duck" and doing what he thought was right regardless of the political fallout.  But I have also noticed some moves that go against things he has supported in the past.  I am starting to believe that the party leaders are pressuring him to moderate in hopes that he does not harm a Republican candidate this November.

[Outlaw]

Miracles never cease!!!

[CLP]

That certainly makes me feel a lot better.  Good For him.  Will shoot the White House an e-mail now.

[tombogan03884]

Is there a site where we can see who else signed the petition ?

[Sponsor]

[Hazcat]

Is there a site where we can see who else signed the petition ?

I understand we will find out on Monday when it is formally given to SCOTUS.

[DDMac]

CLP, don't play like that!! There are those who lurk... that wouldn't understand your humor..

Got to hand it to big Dick though.
 
Mac.

[tombogan03884]

He shot a lawyer, I knew he couldn't be ALL bad.

[Rastus]

I think he signed it because the RINO's know their Dem-Lite anti-gun candidate's (McCain's) chances are seriously threatened by 2nd Ammendment people staying home in disgust.

Call me cynical, I think it was more to "smooth the water" hoping to get some votes back then Cheney being bold.

I guess Ann Coulter, Shaun Hannity and whole lot of conservatives saying they were betrayed and staying home has sunk in on the U.S. Representatives and Senators......

Tombogan did have a point, though.

[Hazcat]

Is there a site where we can see who else signed the petition ?

Tom,

Here is a link to the brief. http://www.gurapossessky.com/news/parker/documents/07-290bsacMembersUSSenate.pdf the signers are listed starting on page 49