Most Popular White Papers
Content provided in partnership with
US Supreme Court backs the right to own firearms
Independent, The (London), Jun 27, 2008
World News IN BRIEF
*WASHINGTON The US Supreme Court has ruled that individual Americans have the right to own guns for personal use, and struck down a strict gun control law in the US capital. After the 5-4 majority ruling, Justice Antonin Scalia said the Second Amendment of the US Constitution protected an individual right to keep and bear arms, and was not tied to a right to service in a state militia. He added that ruling should not be taken to cast doubt on existing prohibitions, such as banning criminals and the mentally ill from carrying firearms.
The court also struck down the gun control law adopted in Washington, DC, 32 years ago, which bans private possession of handguns and requires that any rifles or shotguns kept at home be unloaded or bound by a trigger lock.
Copyright c 2008 Independent Newspapers UK Limited. All rights
owned or operated by The Independent.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
