Demoting the Second Amendment to some lower tier of enumerated rights is unwarranted. The Second Amendment has the distinction of securing the most fundamental rights of all—enabling the preservation of one’s life and guaranteeing our liberty. These are not second-class concerns. Yet preservation of human life is also the government’s chief regulatory interest in arms. Constitutional review of gun laws thus finds both individual and governmental interests at their zenith.

Alan Gura
Robert A. Levy
Clark M. Neily III
February 24, 2008
RESPONDENT’S BRIEF
On Writ Of Certiorari To The United States Court Of Appeals For The District Of Columbia Circuit
[I find this last sentence a very interesting point. It explains why, obvious in hindsight, the 2^nd Amendment has come under such vicious attack and those attacks have been tolerated so well by the courts and the people. It is much more difficult to justify similar attacks on the 1^st Amendment and it has flourished. And a similar analysis explains why we don’t have much of our 4^th Amendment rights honored as well.–Joe]

In short, the argument that “the right of the people” is subject to reasonable regulation and restriction tramples on the very words of the Second Amendment, reading the phrase — “shall not be infringed” — as if it read “shall be subject only to reasonable regulation to achieve public safety.”

Herbert W. Titus
February 11, 2008
Gun Owners of America
Brief amicus curiae in D.C. v. Heller
[I’m tempted to quote nothing but amicus curiae briefs until March 18^th.–Joe]

If we could reverse history and engage the gun lobby back when they started their cynical campaign to convince Americans they have a “right to own guns” then our politics would certainly be in a different place. But it’s too late now and the gun lobby’s well-armed genie is out of the bottle.

Mike of Gun Guys
February 29, 2008
In-Depth Commentary: Candidates Quiet On Gun Issues
[Never mind that he is wrong about individuals having the right to keep and bear arms. What is more important is that he (and gun grabbers in general) are giving up on this battle and focusing their attention on “reasonable restrictions” on that right. We need to finish off the individual rights campaign (Heller) and then engage and destroy them on the “reasonable restriction” front.–Joe]

Congress surely has the power to regulate firearms in Washington; but if Congress felt that disarming Americans at home were necessary for its security, it might have attempted to do so in the first 177 years of the city’s service as the seat of government. As recent history demonstrates, those who would attack our capital are hardly deterred by Petitioners’ ban on handguns and functional firearms in the home.            

Alan Gura
Robert A. Levy
Clark M. Neily III
February 24, 2008
RESPONDENT’S BRIEF
On Writ Of Certiorari To The United States Court Of Appeals For The District Of Columbia Circuit

The media figured out long ago that it’s a bad idea to show streakers and unruly fans at football and baseball games. When some idiot runs out onto the field in his birthday suit the cameras cut away and the announcers just comment that there’s an idiot screwing up the game. They never publicize the moron’s name or discuss his actions because they know that the publicity will just encourage some other moron to play copy-cat. For some reason they can’t maintain that kind of standard when mass murder is involved. They seek out the murderer’s family and friends, they publish their rants and photo’s and they give the bastards exactly what they want – fame.

I’m just a little-bitty corner of the media; a small voice crying out in the wilderness, but I will never again name a murderer or play a role in keeping his memory alive. I hope that others in the media will grow a conscience and do likewise. I don’t expect it, but I will continue to hope.

Jeff Knox
February 15, 2008
Copy Cats
The Firearms Coalition

This seems like it is a tremendous over-reaction. This week I’ve seen prayers on campus and kids afraid to go on campus. If he violated a campus gun policy, I’m not opposed to the college putting him through their standards. But as a Marietta College graduate, I’m offended that they would ban him from the school so quickly. It doesn’t sound like he had due process. It seems the college and the students think that if you have guns, you are inherently dangerous. But there are those of us who carry guns and who are not dangerous.

Bill Burton
Sheriff: Student a gun enthusiast
[Regarding a student that was suspended from college and charged with a crime after having some guns and ammunition in his vehicle. IMHO the campus officials that did this to him should be charged with a felony. H/T to SayUncle for the pointer.–Joe]