DC v. Heller
Today the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the DC handgun ban, and more importantly the meaning and scope of the second amendment.
The transcript was released and can be found here: http://www.supremecourtus.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transc...
As you probably already know this is the first time the SC has heard a 2nd amendment case since 1939 in US v. Miller, in which neither the defendant nor his counsel attended court. Meaning that only the government had representation in the case. This time we fared better, at least both sides were there.
I read the transcript and can make really no predictions, but that won't stop me from trying.
1.The SC will probably rule that the 2nd amendment is an individual right
2.The SC will strike down the DC gun ban
3.The SC will overturn the provision in Miller that subjects weapons to a commonality test in determining their protection under the 2nd amendment, ie machine guns are not commonly used by civilians and thus are more susceptible to regulation and so on.
4.The SC will affirm some type of "reasonable regulation" clause whereby they will allow many existing laws to continue, including the NFA and GPA
Ideally, the government
Ideally, the government shouldn't be able to ban any type of arms which it's police force uses. It should be equal. Example, if the government says individuals can't use tanks or mines to protect themselves, then the police forces can't use tanks or mines. Handguns are a reasonable weapon to protect oneself as the police forces use handguns to protect the citizens.
The reason why kooks go into shopping malls and colleges and shoot up the place is because they got a hunch there are unarmed people there. They don't go to police stations and shoot up the place because they know those people are armed.
This is re-airing now on C-SPAN One 6:00 Pacific time
Will the case also be on tomorrow?