Handgun Ban Deemed Unconstitutional By US Supreme Court

Handgun Ban Deemed Unconstitutional By US Supreme Court
September 17, 2010 by admin
Filed under Traffic Attorney
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According to the Second Amendment of the Bill of Civil rights, Americans have the right to hold and bear arms for self-defense, an ability that aggressive criminal defense lawyers work hard to protect. But, in recent years handgun bans in various major cities in the United States have made that a hard task. Fortunately, in a recent U.S. Supreme Court choice, the civil rights of American citizens to keep and bear arms were upheld, extending to state and community levels. Since 1982, the Midwest city of Chicago has had some of the strictest handgun laws in the country. Residents were not allowed to own handguns for personal use, even in their homes.

Despite these harsh firearm laws, changes were set in motion in 2008. This was when the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment assertion that the civil rights of individuals to possess a gun for self-defense applied to the nation’s capitol. But, since Washington D.C. is a federal city and not a state, it was not specified whether or not the ruling extended to other state or public laws.

Fortunately, early Monday morning the Supreme Court clarified themselves. In a 5-4 ruling, the court reasserted the constitutional protection of the Second Amendment to contain state and public laws, ultimately having both inhabitant and community implications. According to gun-civil rights advocates, this victory for the Second Amendment could potentially allow constitutional appeals to restrictions on handguns be heard and granted nationwide.

As evidenced by the choice handed down from the Supreme Court, the legal process is a complicated and ever-changing one. If you have been accused of criminal charges, it is vital to find out all your options previous to proceeding with any type of defense. For this, it is in your best interest to contact knowledgeable criminal defense attorneys for help. Doing so immediately can provide superior legal representation designed to protect your individual civil rights and freedoms including the right to own handguns for personal use.