Why the Heller case is so important
Posted on: Friday, June 27th, 2008 in: EditorialYesterday, SCOTUS ruled against Washington, D.C. and said that their law against handguns in the home violates the second amendment. They also held the lower court’s ruling but also extended the ruling to extend the protection against disassembled rifles in the house.
There are many things that the Bill of Rights protects. What is abundantly clear from those oh-so-important amendments is that the Rights guaranteed to all persons. Scalia poignantly states “Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited.” Just like you can’t yell “FIRE” in a crowded building, laws can be written to prevent the mentally ill or felons.
The entire case can be summed up simply: “the right of the people” reflects individual rights, not corporate rights.
The case was not only important for the general defense of home and country, but it was important to validate all other amendments that refer to the right of the people.
The ruling does a great job of explaining the history and nuances of the law, which I won’t bother getting into. I’ll, instead, reflect on the importance of “the right of the people" and then dive into the false facts that people have spouted.
