Reflections From a Murky Pond

According to FOXNews, after a week of delaying their decision on whether or not to hear the case, the US Supreme court confirmed Tuesday, November 20th, 2007 that they would in fact finally decide if the Second Amendment of the Constitution protects an individual’s right to own guns or instead merely sets forth the collective right of states to maintain militias.

The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will decide whether the District of Columbia can ban handguns, a case that could produce the most in-depth examination of the constitutional right to “keep and bear arms” in nearly 70 years.

The justices’ decision to hear the case could make the divisive debate over guns an issue in the 2008 presidential and congressional elections.

The government of Washington, D.C., is asking the court to uphold its 31-year ban on handgun ownership in the face of a federal appeals court ruling that struck down the ban as incompatible with the Second Amendment. Tuesday’s announcement was widely expected, especially after both the District and the man who challenged the handgun ban asked for the high court review.

The case is District of Columbia v. Heller, 07-290. Arguments will be heard early next year. It looks like, after decades of confusion and speculation, the official interpretation of what rights are guaranteed by the US Constitution’s 2nd Amendment will finally be decided. To my mind it’s long overdue.

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