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[IP] more on How bizarre can it get?? We're about to find out...





Begin forwarded message:

From: Dave Wilson <dave@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: September 29, 2004 3:52:48 PM EDT
To: dave@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [IP] more on How bizarre can it get?? We're about to find out...


Fourth, the right to "keep" firearms is enshrined in the Bill of Rights 
 while the right to own an iPod is not as constitutionally explicit. 
 Like other rights in the BoR, the Second Amendment protects an 
 individual right to own firearms (arguably) similar to whatever is 
 being used in the military. See Prof. Eugene Volokh's testimony to 
 Congress:
http://www1.law.ucla.edu/~volokh/beararms/testimon.htm
 "The Second Amendment does indeed secure an individual right to keep 
 and bear arms."

 Best,
 Declan

The Supreme Court respectfully disagrees :-). In 1939, the Court settled the argument, declaring in U.S. v Miller that the Second Amendment does not guarantee the right of an individual to keep and bear arms, but rather has the "obvious purpose" of assuring "the continuation and render possible the effectiveness" of the state milita, as stated in the Amendment itself. Challenges to this ruling in 1969 and 1980 were squashed. And finally, in two decisions made in 1965 and 1990, the Court specifically declared that the militia referred to by the Second Amendment means the U.S. National Guard.

Since Miller, the Supreme Court has addressed the Second Amendment twice more, upholding New Jersey's strict gun control law in 1969 and upholding the federal law banning felons from possessing guns in 1980. Furthermore, twice - in 1965 and 1990 - the Supreme Court has held that the term "well-regulated militia" refers to the National Guard.
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