District of Columbia v. Heller (2007)


Backround
Group of private gun owners brought suit after legislation passed in which handgun regulation was barred, registration was required for all pistols, and firearms needed to be kept unloaded and disassembled or trigger locked. Court was urged to review case in order to clearly define relationship between federal gun control laws and the Second Amendment.

Issues
Is it the right of the people to be able to keep at home and bear arms? Or does this only apply to those in a militia such as the National Guard? If so do these laws infringe upon it?

Decision 
5-4 decision that right to bear arms is unconnected with being involved in a militia. Lawful use aside from this is allowed.

My Opinion
I concur with Justice Antonin Scalia's opinion, in which he stated that citizens may own maintain firearms as long as they are using them for 'traditionally lawful purposes'. It is only because of the misuse that sometimes occurs in society that people have a problem with this amendment at all. Therefore, if bearing arms is limited to self protection in times of imminent danger or a legal/lawful manner then this amendment should stay and it is unconnected to the militia (the right to bear arms). Furthermore, the right to bear arms should be a federal idea, as described in the 2nd Amendment, however regulations and specifics should be left to the states.