D.C. Circuit Court Affirms Right to Carry
Kevin Felts 07.26.17
A Federal Circuit court in Washington D.C. has ruled the 2nd Amendment applies to outside the home. The decision was based on a challenge to a Washington D.C. law which limited the right to carry a firearm outside the home.
What does this mean?
Look for a possible showdown at the United States Supreme Court.
June 2016
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled people do not have a right to carry a firearm outside the home.
The protection of the Second Amendment — whatever the scope of that protection may be — simply does not extend to the carrying of concealed firearms in public by members of the general public.
June 2017
The United States Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court ruling.
From PBS – Supreme Court rejects gun rights challenge to California limits on concealed carry.
The Supreme Court is rejecting yet another call to decide whether Americans have a constitutional right to carry guns with them outside their homes.
The justices on Monday left in place an appeals court ruling that upheld the San Diego sheriff’s strict limits on issuing permits for concealed weapons.
July 25, 2017
Appeals court blocks strict DC concealed carry permit law.
“At the Second Amendment’s core lies the right of responsible citizens to carry firearms for personal self-defense beyond the home, subject to longstanding restrictions,”
Judge Thomas Griffith wrote for the majority.
Opinion
The following is an opinion piece and is not based on formal legal education.
Now that two Federal Courts have issued different decisions, the Supreme Court will likely decide on whether the 2nd amendment applies to outside the home.
More importantly, gun groups have to stop using the “self defense” excuse to push challenges through the courts.
It is our right to keep and bear arms, as affirmed by the Second Amendment.
Do we have to provide a reason to have a trial by jury?
Are we required to have a justifiable cause to vote? Are voters required to explain “why” they need to register to vote? When we go to vote, do we have to explain to some government official our “justifiable cause” to vote?
When we go to church, do we have to explain to some government official “why” we need to exercise our right to religion?
We would not tolerate restrictions on our right to trial by jury, right to vote, or right to exercise religion. So, why do we tolerate the government restricting our right to keep and bear arms?
