Supreme Court Strikes Down DC Gun Ban

[KSB2424 3,172]

Afraid to post the source of that complete hatchet job of a list?

I did, and it is a very biased site. A real hack, but he still makes some good points.

[Mephisto 15]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/27/washingt...amp;_r=1&hp

 

In other words, the Supreme Court just handed a MAJOR weapon to the NRA in its quest to invalidate all gun-control laws.

 

No, in your overblown, embellished words.

 

The NRA has NO desire to "invalidate all gun-control laws." Never has, despite the tens-of-thousands of gun control laws already on the books.

 

IS THE FOCKING SKY FALLING, TOO!?!?!?! Moron.

[Mephisto 15]

I did explain why it was activisit. Let me repeat it, for the slow people here: this opinion calls into question every piece of gun-control legislation passed by a legislature in any state or at the federal level. EVERY GUN CONTROL STATUTE EVER PASSED IS NOW GOING TO BE UNDER ATTACK. If that isn't activist, I don't know what the hell is.

 

 

You're a retard.

[Mephisto 15]

I did, and it is a very biased site. A real hack, but he still makes some good points.

 

Top 40 Reasons to Support Gun Control

 

1. Banning guns works, which is why New York, DC, and Chicago cops need guns.

 

2. Washington DC’s low murder rate of 69 per 100,000 is due to strict gun control, and Indianapolis’ high murder rate of 9 per 100,000 is due to the lack of gun control.

 

3. Statistics showing high murder rates justify gun control but statistics showing increasing murder rates after gun control are "just statistics."

 

4. The Brady Bill and the Assault Weapons Ban, both of which went into effect in 1994, are responsible for the decrease in violent crime rates, which have been declining since 1991.

 

5. We must get rid of guns because a deranged lunatic may go on a shooting spree at any time and anyone who would own a gun out of fear of such a lunatic is paranoid.

 

6. The more helpless you are the safer you are from criminals.

 

7. An intruder will be incapacitated by tear gas or oven spray, but if shot with a .357 Magnum will get angry and kill you.

 

8. A woman raped and strangled is morally superior to a woman with a smoking gun and a dead rapist at her feet.

 

9. When confronted by violent criminals, you should "put up no defense — give them what they want, or run" (Handgun Control Inc. Chairman Pete Shields, Guns Don't Die - People Do, 1981, p. 125).

 

10. The New England Journal of Medicine is filled with expert advice about guns; just like Guns and Ammo has some excellent treatises on heart surgery.

 

11. One should consult an automotive engineer for safer seatbelts, a civil engineer for a better bridge, a surgeon for spinal paralysis, a computer programmer for Y2K problems, and Sarah Brady [or Sheena Duncan, Adele Kirsten, Peter Storey, etc.] for firearms expertise.

 

12. The 2nd Amendment, ratified in 1787, refers to the National Guard, which was created by an act of Congress in 1917.

 

13. The National Guard, funded by the federal government, occupying property leased to the federal government, using weapons owned by the federal government, punishing trespassers under federal law, is a state militia.

 

14. These phrases," right of the people peaceably to assemble," "right of the people to be secure in their homes," "enumeration's herein of certain rights shall not be construed to disparage others retained by the people," and "The powers not delegated herein are reserved to the states respectively, and to the people," all refer to individuals, but "the right of the people to keep and bear arms" refers to the state.

 

15. We don't need guns against an oppressive government, because the Constitution has internal safeguards, but we should ban and seize all guns, thereby violating the 2nd, 4th, and 5th amendments to that Constitution.

 

16. Rifles and handguns aren't necessary to national defense, which is why the army has millions of them.

 

17. Private citizens shouldn't have handguns, because they serve no military purpose, and private citizens shouldn't have "assault rifles," because they are military weapons.

 

18. The ready availability of guns today, with waiting periods, background checks, fingerprinting, government forms, et cetera, is responsible for recent school shootings,compared to the lack of school shootings in the 40's, 50's and 60's, which resulted from the availability of guns at hardware stores, surplus stores, gas stations, variety stores, mail order, et cetera

 

19. The NRA's attempt to run a "don't touch" campaign about kids handling guns is propaganda, and the anti-gun lobby's attempt to run a "don't touch" campaign is responsible social activity.

 

20. Guns are so complex that special training is necessary to use them properly, and so simple to use that they make murder easy.

 

21. A handgun, with up to 4 controls, is far too complex for the typical adult to learn to use, as opposed to an automobile that only has 20.

 

22. Women are just as intelligent and capable as men but a woman with a gun is "an accident waiting to happen" and gun makers' advertisements aimed at women are "preying on their fears."

 

23. Ordinary people in the presence of guns turn into slaughtering butchers but revert to normal when the weapon is removed.

 

24. Guns cause violence, which is why there are so many mass killings at gun shows.

 

25. A majority of the population supports gun control, just like a majority of the population supported owning slaves.

 

26. A self-loading small arm can legitimately be considered to be a "weapon of mass destruction" or an "assault weapon."

 

27. Most people can't be trusted, so we should have laws against guns, which most people will abide by because they can be trusted.

 

28. The right of online pornographers to exist cannot be questioned because it is constitutionally protected by the Bill of Rights, but the use of handguns for self defense is not really protected by the Bill of Rights.

 

29. Free speech entitles one to own newspapers, transmitters, computers, and typewriters, but self-defense only justifies bare hands.

 

30. The ACLU is good because it uncompromisingly defends certain parts of the Constitution, and the NRA is bad, because it defends other parts of the Constitution.

 

31. Charlton Heston as president of the NRA is a shill who should be ignored, but Michael Douglas as a representative of Handgun Control, Inc. is an ambassador for peace who is entitled to an audience at the UN arms control summit.

 

32. Police operate with backup within groups, which is why they need larger capacity pistol magazines than do "civilians" who must face criminals alone and therefore need less ammunition.

 

33. We should ban "Saturday Night Specials" and other inexpensive guns because it's not fair that poor people have access to guns too.

 

34. Police officers, who qualify with their duty weapons once or twice a year, have some special Jedi-like mastery over handguns that private citizens can never hope to obtain.

 

35. Private citizens don't need a gun for self-protection because the police are there to protect them even though the Supreme Court says the police are not responsible for their protection.

 

36. Citizens don't need to carry a gun for personal protection but police chiefs, who are desk-bound administrators who work in a building filled with cops, need a gun.

 

37. "Assault weapons" have no purpose other than to kill large numbers of people, which is why the police need them but "civilians" do not.

 

38. When Microsoft pressures its distributors to give Microsoft preferential promotion, that's bad; but when the Federal government pressures cities to buy guns only from Smith & Wesson, that's good.

 

39. Trigger locks do not interfere with the ability to use a gun for defensive purposes, which is why you see police officers with one on their duty weapon.

 

40. When Handgun Control, Inc., says they want to "keep guns out of the wrong hands," they don't mean you. Really.

 

You are so focking owned.

[IGotWorms 4,062]

You're a retard.

 

Way to make me see the light. I explain to you that the Supreme Court is essentially invalidating hundreds of legislative acts and this is your retort?

[heavy-set 39]

nigga plz

 

[Brad GLuckman 519]

Senator Obama and I agree on something

 

Obama on the ruling

[Mephisto 15]

Way to make me see the light. I explain to you that the Supreme Court is essentially invalidating hundreds of legislative acts and this is your retort?

 

That's all your "explanation" deserved. You explained that it invalidated ALL of them and that is unequivocally NOT what the ruling did. At worst, it jeopardizes a very small minority of those laws that violate the intent of the 2nd-Amendment... like those laws that BAN lawful firearm ownership. Retard.

[BudBro 183]

Also keep in mind that they knew of the controls in place from their native lands with regard to gun ownership and knew that an armed populace posessed the ability to rise up against a government that lost its way....

 

The right to bear arms was instituted to assure that tyranny could always be challenged by the people, thus tyranny itself would not manifest under such a potential threat.

rlld has this one nailed. the constitution, and more specifically the bill of rights, was put in place to put limits on the govt, not on the people. the 2nd amendment was put into place to back up the first amendment. the framers had just come from a place where the govt imposed itself on the people.

 

another important point lost here is that the supreme court interpreted the amendment for what it says, and not what some lawyers want it to say.

 

for the mentally insane libs among us, including all black people who are upset with this, it doesn't mean that everyone has the right to own a handgun. there are still limits in place. it does, however, tell the people who may have some intent to harm others that everyone might own a handgun. for dc, chicago, san fran, seattle and the other whacko cities that have imposed themselves over the people, this ruling puts them back in their places for the time being.

 

the reason libs and blacks are angry about the decision is they were hoping we were getting closer to govt rule over the people in every aspect, with the obamanation being in charge. this obviously hurts the cause. when they turn the military weapons toward the people (like cuba, venezuela, mexico, all the places the libs love), at least we'll have an opportunity to shoot back.

[Rattlesnake 0]

Great.

 

[tubby_mcgee 701]

When you figure out how to get them away from all the criminals... you let us know, chief.

 

 

He's obviously sarcastic. It's known that Gettn Huge is a hunter.

[tubby_mcgee 701]

Better email the high bidder on this item then... Ingram, Full Auto .45 w/Silencer

 

Yeah. That is for sale...but it must go through a Class III Weapons dealer. So...yes...you are correct.

 

But....I might add that there are no such things as private sales of Class III Weapons. Period. All Class III weapons must be sold/transferred through a Class III dealer.

 

That said there are no NEW full auto weapons to be bought by private citizens. Period.

 

Only the weapons that existed, and were legally registered when the new ban on their manufacture in 1986,are legal. (again, so you are correct...it is possible that one could be owned...but for "practical" purposes, they are illegal).

 

Finally, you can order those parts for a three round burst, you install them and you just made an illgeal full auto weapon - punishable by 10 years in prison and a 10,000 dollar fine.

 

In addition, having certain conversion parts in your poessession while having the legal weapon they fit in your poessession at the same time constitutes having an illegal machine gun.

[tubby_mcgee 701]

Do pens misspell words?

[Mephisto 15]

So...yes...you are correct.

 

[Mephisto 15]

*bump*

[GettnHuge 2]

1. all guns should be banned

2. see number 1

 

preach, brotha!

[Mephisto 15]

The preponderance of state constitutions, many of which updated long after "Revolutionary times" - make the argument quite simple... it's about individuals' rights.

 

Thanks for playing.

 

 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

State Constitutional Right to Keep and Bear Arms Provisions

Prof. Eugene Volokh, UCLA Law School *

 

[After each provision, I indicate whether it now protects an individual right aimed at least partly as self-defense, which I abbreviate as "self-defense right"; the shorthand "self-defense right explicitly protected" refers to provisions that specifically say "in defense of himself" or some such. I generally cite only one case, simply for the sake of being terse, unless there's some uncertainty in the caselaw.]

 

 

Alabama: That every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state. Art. I, § 26 (enacted 1819, art. I, § 23, with "defence" in place of "defense," spelling changed 1901).

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Alaska: A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The individual right to keep and bear arms shall not be denied or infringed by the State or a political subdivision of the State. Art. I, § 19 (first sentence enacted 1959, second sentence added 1994).

 

[individual right explicitly protected; provision enacted in 1994, when the individual right to bear arms was generally understood as aimed at protecting self-defense.]

 

Arizona: The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the State shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain, or employ an armed body of men. Art. II, § 26 (enacted 1912).

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Arkansas: The citizens of this State shall have the right to keep and bear arms for their common defense. Art. II, § 5 (enacted 1868, art. I, § 5).

1836: "That the free white men of this State shall have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defence." Art. II, § 21.

 

[self-defense right protected, Arkansas Game and Fish Com'n v. Murders, 327 Ark. 426 (1997); Wilson v. State, 33 Ark. 557 (1878).]

 

California: No provision.

 

Colorado: The right of no person to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall be called in question; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons. Art. II, § 13 (enacted 1876, art. II, § 13).

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Connecticut: Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state. Art. I, § 15 (enacted 1818, art. I, § 17). The original 1818 text came from the Mississippi Constitution of 1817.

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Delaware: A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and State, and for hunting and recreational use. Art. I, § 20 (enacted 1987).

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Florida: (a) The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by law.

( There shall be a mandatory period of three days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, between the purchase and delivery at retail of any handgun. For the purposes of this section, "purchase" means the transfer of money or other valuable consideration to the retailer, and "handgun" means a firearm capable of being carried and used by one hand, such as a pistol or revolver. Holders of a concealed weapon permit as prescribed in Florida law shall not be subject to the provisions of this paragraph.

© The legislature shall enact legislation implementing subsection ( of this section, effective no later than December 31, 1991, which shall provide that anyone violating the provisions of subsection ( shall be guilty of a felony.

(d) This restriction shall not apply to a trade in of another handgun. Art. I, § 8 (sections (-(d) added in 1990).

1838: "That the free white men of this State shall have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defence." Art. I, § 21.

1865: Clause omitted.

1868: "The people shall have the right to bear arms in defence of themselves and of the lawful authority of the State." Art. I, § 22.

1885: "The right of the people to bear arms in defence of themselves and the lawful authority of the State, shall not be infringed, but the Legislature may prescribe the manner in which they may be borne." Art. I, § 20.

1968: "The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by law." Art. I, § 8.

 

[self-defense right protected, Alexander v. State, 450 So.2d 1212 (Fla. App. 1984).]

 

Georgia: The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but the General Assembly shall have power to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne. Art. I, § 1, ¶ VIII (enacted 1877, art. I, § XXII).

1865: "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Art. I, § 4.

1868: "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free people, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; but the general assembly shall have power to prescribe by law the manner in which arms may be borne." Art. I, § 14.

 

[self-defense right protected, McCoy v. State, 157 Ga. 767 (1924).]

 

Hawaii: A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Art. I, § 17 (enacted 1959).

 

[No decision about whether self-defense right right is protected.]

 

Idaho: The people have the right to keep and bear arms, which right shall not be abridged; but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to govern the carrying of weapons concealed on the person nor prevent passage of legislation providing minimum sentences for crimes committed while in possession of a firearm, nor prevent the passage of legislation providing penalties for the possession of firearms by a convicted felon, nor prevent the passage of any legislation punishing the use of a firearm. No law shall impose licensure, registration or special taxation on the ownership or possession of firearms or ammunition. Nor shall any law permit the confiscation of firearms, except those actually used in the commission of a felony. Art. I, § 11 (enacted 1978).

1889: "The people have the right to bear arms for their security and defense; but the Legislature shall regulate the exercise of this right by law." Art. I, § 11.

 

[self-defense right protected, In re Brickey, 70 P. 609 (Idaho 1902).]

 

Illinois: Subject only to the police power, the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Art. I, § 22 (enacted 1970).

 

[self-defense right protected, Kalodimos v. Village of Morton Grove, 470 N.E.2d 266, 273 (Ill. 1984).]

 

Indiana: The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State. Art. I, § 32 (enacted 1851, art. I, § 32).

1816: That the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the State, and that the military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power. Art. I, § 20.

 

[self-defense right protected, Kellogg v. City of Gary, 562 N.E.2d 685, 694 (Ind. 1990).]

 

Iowa: No provision.

 

Kansas: The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be tolerated, and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power. Bill of Rights, § 4 (enacted 1859, art. I, § 4).

 

[interpreted as collective right only, City of Salina v. Blaksley, 83 P. 619 (Kan. 1905), adhered to by City of Junction City v. Lee, 532 P.2d 1292 (Kan. 1975). But see City of Junction City v. Mevis, 601 P.2d 1145, 1151 (Kan. 1979) (striking down a gun control law, challenged by an individual citizen, on the grounds that it was “unconstitutionally overbroad,” and thus implicitly concluding that the right to bear arms did indeed belong to individual citizens).]

 

Kentucky: All men are, by nature, free and equal, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned: ...

Seventh: The right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the State, subject to the power of the General Assembly to enact laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons. § 1 (enacted 1891).

1792: "That the right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned." Art. XII, § 23.

1799: "That the rights of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned." Art. X, § 23.

1850: "That the rights of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned; but the General Assembly may pass laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed arms." Art. XIII, § 25.

 

Louisiana: The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be abridged, but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to prohibit the carrying of weapons concealed on the person. Art. I, § 11 (enacted 1974).

1879: "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be abridged. This shall not prevent the passage of laws to punish those who carry weapons concealed." Art. 3.

 

[self-defense right protected, State v. Chaisson, 457 So.2d 1257, 1259 (La. App. 1984).]

 

Maine: Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned. Art. I, § 16 (enacted 1987, after a collective-rights interpretation of the original provision).

1819: "Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms for the common defence; and this right shall never be questioned." Art. I, § 16.

 

[self-defense right protected, State v. Brown, 571 A.2d 816 (Me. 1990).]

 

Maryland: No provision.

 

Massachusetts: The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence. And as, in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained without the consent of the legislature; and the military power shall always be held in an exact subordination to the civil authority, and be governed by it. Pt. 1, art. 17 (enacted 1780).

 

[interpreted as collective right only, Commonwealth v. Davis, 343 N.E.2d 847 (Mass. 1976).]

 

Michigan: Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state. Art. I, § 6 (enacted 1963).

1835: "Every person has a right to bear arms for the defence of himself and the State." Art. I, § 13.

1850: "Every person has a right to bear arms for the defense of himself and the state." Art. XVIII, § 7.

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Minnesota: No provision.

 

Mississippi: The right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called in question, but the legislature may regulate or forbid carrying concealed weapons. Art. III, § 12 (enacted 1890, art. 3, § 12).

1817: "Every citizen has a right to bear arms, in defence of himself and the State." Art. I, § 23.

1832: "Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defence of himself and of the State." Art. I, § 23.

1868: "All persons shall have a right to keep and bear arms for their defence." Art. I, § 15.

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Missouri: That the right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or when lawfully summoned in aid of the civil power, shall not be questioned; but this shall not justify the wearing of concealed weapons. Art. I, § 23 (enacted 1945).

1820: "That the people have the right peaceably to assemble for their common good, and to apply to those vested with the powers of government for redress of grievances by petition or remonstrance; and that their right to bear arms in defence of themselves and of the State cannot be questioned." Art. XIII, § 3.

1865: Same as above, but with "the lawful authority of the State" instead of "the State." Art. I, § 8.

1875: "That the right of no citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or in aid of the civil power, when thereto legally summoned, shall be called into question; but nothing herein contained is intended to justify the practice of wearing concealed weapons." Art. II, § 17.

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Montana: The right of any person to keep or bear arms in defense of his own home, person, and property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called in question, but nothing herein contained shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons. Art. II, § 12 (enacted 1889).

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Nebraska: All persons are by nature free and independent, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights; among these are life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the right to keep and bear arms for security or defense of self, family, home, and others, and for lawful common defense, hunting, recreational use, and all other lawful purposes, and such rights shall not be denied or infringed by the state or any subdivision thereof. Art. I, § 1 (right to keep and bear arms enacted 1988).

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Nevada: Every citizen has the right to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes. Art. I, § 11(1) (enacted 1982).

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

New Hampshire: All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state. Pt. 1, art. 2-a (enacted 1982).

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

New Jersey: No provision.

 

New Mexico: No law shall abridge the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes, but nothing herein shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons. No municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, an incident of the right to keep and bear arms. Art. II, § 6 (first sentence enacted in 1971, second sentence added 1986).

1912: "The people have the right to bear arms for their security and defense, but nothing herein shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons." Art. II, § 6.

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

New York: No provision.

 

North Carolina: A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; and, as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they shall not be maintained, and the military shall be kept under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power. Nothing herein shall justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons, or prevent the General Assembly from enacting penal statutes against that practice. Art. 1, § 30 (enacted 1971).

1776: "That the people have a right to bear arms, for the defence of the State; and, as standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; and that the military should be kept under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power." Bill of Rights, § XVII.

1868: "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; and, as standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up, and the military should be kept under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power." Art. I, § 24.

1875: Same as 1868, but added "Nothing herein contained shall justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons, or prevent the Legislature from enacting penal statutes against said practice."

 

[self-defense right protected, State v. Kerner. 107 S.E. 222, 225 (N.C. 1921).]

 

North Dakota: All individuals are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation; pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness; and to keep and bear arms for the defense of their person, family, property, and the state, and for lawful hunting, recreational, and other lawful purposes, which shall not be infringed. Art. I, § 1 (right to keep and bear arms enacted 1984).

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Ohio: The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be kept up; and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power. Art. I, § 4 (enacted 1851).

1802: "That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the State; and as standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, they shall not be kept up, and that the military shall be kept under strict subordination to the civil power." Art. VIII, § 20.

 

[self-defense right protected, Arnold v. Cleveland, 616 N.E.2d 163, 169 (Ohio 1993).]

 

Oklahoma: The right of a citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power, when thereunto legally summoned, shall never be prohibited; but nothing herein contained shall prevent the Legislature from regulating the carrying of weapons. Art. II, § 26 (enacted 1907).

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Oregon: The people shall have the right to bear arms for the defence of themselves, and the State, but the Military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power[.] Art. I, § 27 (enacted 1857, art. I, § 28).

 

[self-defense right protected, State v. Hirsch, 114 P.3d 1104, 1110 (Ore. 2005).]

 

Pennsylvania: The right of the citizens to bear arms in defence of themselves and the State shall not be questioned. Art. 1, § 21 (enacted 1790, art. IX, § 21).

1776: That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state; and as standing armies in the time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; And that the military should be kept under strict subordination, to, and governed by, the civil power. Declaration of Rights, cl. XIII.

 

[self-defense right protected, Sayres v. Commonwealth, 88 Pa. 291 (1879).]

 

Rhode Island: The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Art. I, § 22 (enacted 1842).

 

[self-defense right protected, Mosby v. Devine, 851 A.2d 1031, 1043 (R.I. 2004).]

 

South Carolina: A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. As, in times of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they shall not be maintained without the consent of the General Assembly. The military power of the State shall always be held in subordination to the civil authority and be governed by it. Art. 1, § 20 (enacted 1895).

1868: "The people have a right to keep and bear arms for the common defence. As, in times of peace . . . ." Art. I, § 28.

 

[Right treated as an individual right, apparently aimed at least partly at self-defense, State v. Johnson, 16 S.C. 187 (1881);

 

South Dakota: The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be denied. Art. VI, § 24 (enacted 1889).

 

[self-defense right protected, Conaty v. Solem, 422 N.W.2d 102, 104 (S.D. 1988).]

 

Tennessee: That the citizens of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime. Art. I, § 26 (enacted 1870).

1796: "That the freemen of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defence." Art. XI, § 26.

1834: "That the free white men of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defence." Art. I, § 26.

 

[self-defense right protected, State v. Foutch, 34 S.W. 1, 1 (Tenn. 1896).]

 

Texas: Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the State; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime. Art. I, § 23 (enacted 1876).

1836: "Every citizen shall have the right to bear arms in defence of himself and the republic. The military shall at all times and in all cases be subordinate to the civil power." Declaration of Rights, cl. 14.

1845: "Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in lawful defence of himself or the State." Art. I, § 13.

1868: "Every person shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defence of himself or the State, under such regulations as the legislature may prescribe." Art. I, § 13.

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Utah: The individual right of the people to keep and bear arms for security and defense of self, family, others, property, or the state, as well as for other lawful purposes shall not be infringed; but nothing herein shall prevent the legislature from defining the lawful use of arms. Art. I, § 6 (enacted 1984).

1896: "The people have the right to bear arms for their security and defense, but the legislature may regulate the exercise of this right by law."

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Vermont: That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the State -- and as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; and that the military should be kept under strict subordination to and governed by the civil power. Ch. I, art. 16 (enacted 1777, ch. I, art. 15).

 

[self-defense right protected, State v. Rosenthal, 55 A. 610 (Vt. 1903).]

 

Virginia: That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power. Art. I, § 13 (enacted 1776 without explicit right to keep and bear arms; "therefore, the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed" added in 1971).

 

[No decision about whether self-defense right right is protected. Compare 1993 Va. Op. Atty. Gen. 13 (construing the right as collective) with 2006 WL 304006 (Va. Op. Atty. Gen.) (construing the right as individual).]

 

Washington: The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men. Art. I, § 24 (enacted 1889).

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

West Virginia: A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and state, and for lawful hunting and recreational use. Art. III, § 22 (enacted 1986).

 

[self-defense right explicitly protected.]

 

Wisconsin: The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose. Art. I, § 25 (enacted 1998).

 

[self-defense right protected, State v. Fisher, 714 N.W.2d 495 (Wisc. 2006).]

 

Wyoming: The right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the state shall not be denied. Art. I, § 24 (enacted 1889).

 

[self-defense right protected, State v. McAdams, 714 P.2d 1236, 1238 (Wyo. 1986).]