Call to Decision

Monday, June 28, 2010

Gun Owners of America rejoices in the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Otis McDonald and against the city of Chicago. In doing so, the Court ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment applies the right to keep and bear arms (in the Second Amendment) to all 50 states.

"This is great news for Otis McDonald in Chicago and even greater news for citizens that are languishing under restrictive gun control laws across the country," said Erich Pratt, Director of Communications for Gun Owners of America.

GOA is still pouring through the ruling and will have a more detailed analysis later. But in brief, the Court ruled that:

* "The Fourteenth Amendment makes the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms fully applicable to the States."

* "A survey of the contemporaneous history also demonstrates clearly that the Fourteenth Amendment's Framers and ratifiers counted the right to keep and bear arms among those fundamental rights necessary to the Nation's system of ordered liberty."

These are arguments that GOA has been making for years. In fact, Gun Owners of America submitted an amicus brief in this case and was pleased to see that Justice Clarence Thomas made some of the exact same arguments (found in our brief) in his concurring opinion.

The decision by the Court today will have tremendous ramifications for the restrictive gun control laws in California, New York City and elsewhere.

Gun owners, please stay tuned!