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feste_sylvainYou would not believe how much I was sweating over this one. I thought they'd land on the wrong side. And they almost did.
But in a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court did find that the 2nd Amendment applies to the people, not just state collectives.
The split was along the often-cited left-right lines, the majority being Chief Justice John Roberts, Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, and Clarence Thomas, and Junior Justice Samuel Alito. Writing for the majority, Justice Scalia actually cited the history correctly, pointing out the importance of not relying on the state for one's self-defense. (And I find it interesting that Chief Justice Roberts deferred to Justice Scalia to write the opinion.)
Writing for the minority, Justice Stephen Breyer complained that "The decision threatens to throw into doubt the constitutionality of gun laws throughout the United States", but he said that as if it were a bad thing. He also carped that the right to bear arms was "just created right now", showing ignorance not only of the 2nd Amendment but the 9th as well.
But in a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court did find that the 2nd Amendment applies to the people, not just state collectives.
The split was along the often-cited left-right lines, the majority being Chief Justice John Roberts, Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, and Clarence Thomas, and Junior Justice Samuel Alito. Writing for the majority, Justice Scalia actually cited the history correctly, pointing out the importance of not relying on the state for one's self-defense. (And I find it interesting that Chief Justice Roberts deferred to Justice Scalia to write the opinion.)
Writing for the minority, Justice Stephen Breyer complained that "The decision threatens to throw into doubt the constitutionality of gun laws throughout the United States", but he said that as if it were a bad thing. He also carped that the right to bear arms was "just created right now", showing ignorance not only of the 2nd Amendment but the 9th as well.
