By Rob Sanna - Talk Radio News Service
The Supreme Court upheld the Second Amendment with a 5-4 vote in the McDonald vs. The City of Chicago case. The court ruled that the right to keep and bear arms be extended to state and local governments declared it unconstitutional for cities and states to ban guns.
Executive Vice President of the National Rifle Association Wayne LaPierre called the decision a "landmark case that makes the second amendment a real part of constitutional law." He said this case is a real victory because it defends the constitutional rights Americans have.
Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said the decision did not come as a surprise because arguments against gun laws were very similar to arguments made in the District of Columbia vs. Heller case in 2008, where the court also struck down gun bans. He also noted that the decision will have little direct impact, given Chicago and D.C. are the only cities with gun bans, and it is likely the cities will rewrite these laws and continue to limit gun ownership.
Helmke said that the definition of the Second Amendment is still very narrow and the right to bear arms is not unlimited. Laws that limit gun possession such as registration are still constitutional and are likely to remain law even if challenged in future lawsuits, he added.
The lead attorney who argued against gun bans in the Heller case and the McDonald case, Alan Gura said that he will continue litigation with the Chicago until public policy complies with the Bill of Rights. The city will not challenge registration laws, but Gura said they intend to focus on removing "unbelievable bureaucracy" which makes it very difficult for citizens to own guns.