The Supreme Court of the United States announced this morning its 5-4 decision in favor of the plaintiffs in McDonald v. Chicago.<\/p>\n
The short news is, \u201cWe Won!\u201d<\/p>\n
The slightly longer news is, the Chicago handgun ban wasn\u2019t actually struck down, but the case was remanded to the relevant Federal court. Since that court must now incorporate the highest court\u2019s ruling, it\u2019s pretty much the same as if the ban HAD been, well, banned.<\/p>\n
The fight, of course, is not over. Mayor Daley has vowed to oppose it in every way. Expect red tape the consistency of concertina wire when you attempt to acquire a handgun and register it in Chicago: insanely high registration fees, and the equivalent of a Master\u2019s Degree in Firearms Safety from Harvard, if there was such a thing. There will almost certainly have to be follow-up litigation to implement practical change. \u201cI think we need one more Supreme Court case on guns to make it clear to the circuit courts what they mean about reasonable regulation. That will take about 3-5 years to percolate,\u201d pro-gun attorney Steve Harris wrote me today.<\/p>\n
Nonetheless, activists for the civil rights of gun owners have every reason to celebrate. While the gun-banners are already putting their pathetic spin on it, the reality is that in conjunction with SCOTUS\u2019 previous landmark decision in Heller, precedent has been set for other onerous laws that limit rights at levels below the Federal to be successfully challenged and set aside.<\/p>\n
Backwoods Home founder Dave Duffy told me this morning when the decision was announced, \u201cIt\u2019s a great day for freedom.\u201d I\u2019ll second that.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s not forget that it was the Second Amendment Foundation and the Illinois State Rifle Association that brought the suit, with the NRA jumping in later. SAF\u2019s Dave Workman offers THIS <\/a>commentary.<\/p>\n