[BartSimpson]

The US Supreme Court incorporated the 2nd Amendment today on a 5-4 vote. Incorporation means that the right to keep and bear arms now applies to the states and municipalities as well as to the Federal government. This effectively ends gun control restrictions in New York City, Chicago, Detroit, and San Francisco.
What remains to be seen is if this ruling will end restrictions on the types of firearms available in the various states and municipalities. Meaning that it remains to be seen if a handgun ban or restriction will be allowed so long as long guns are accessible to law abiding citizens. We'll find out as the day progresses and various legal analysts decipher the majority opinion.

[Zipperfish]

What about nukes?

[BartSimpson]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142 ... 09426.html

The opinion also codified self defense as a right:

Quote:

"Self defense is a basic right, recognized by many legal systems from ancient times to the present day," wrote Justice Samuel Alito.

Which now sets the US apart from pretty much every other Western nation except Israel and Switzerland.

The ramifications of this part of the decision, IMHO, will be more far-reaching in scope than the rest of the decision. With self defense recognized as a right then that means in those jurisidictions that are hostile to self defense the individual will now have a powerful legal tool to bring to bear to assert their rights.

[xerxes]

A wide ranging decision to be sure. I wonder just how far the justices want it to go though?

Does this mean that restrictions for convicted felons are unconstitutional too? Is the legal age of majority gone as a control as well? And as for this quote:

"A right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose."

Does this mean all the FOX News viewers out there will say they need a tank to protect themselves from the federal government or a stinger missle to kepp the black helicopters away?

[Proculation]

@BartSimpson: Is Washington, DC covered too or since it's not a state it doesn't apply ?

[andyt]

You know, if we weren't so close, it would be kinda fun to watch them blow themselves apart - it would just be a faster version of what they're doing now. But we're going to have to institute a draft so we can post our military at the border to keep out all the refugees streaming north.

[xerxes]

Proculation wrote:

@BartSimpson: Is Washington, DC covered too or since it's not a state it doesn't apply ?

The Supreme Court struck down a ban in DC last year, a ruling which led to this one, so yes, it applies in DC.

[andyt]

[Proculation]

andyt wrote:

You know, if we weren't so close, it would be kinda fun to watch them blow themselves apart - it would just be a faster version of what they're doing now. But we're going to have to institute a draft so we can post our military at the border to keep out all the refugees streaming north.

I don't understand your point. Maybe it's bad because more illegal handguns will come in but for the crime, the stats doesn't show that at all.

Vermont has virtually no gun laws and there's almost no crime and I've not see refugees of Vermont in Quebec.

[BartSimpson]

Proculation wrote:

@BartSimpson: Is Washington, DC covered too or since it's not a state it doesn't apply ?

Washington DC was covered in the 2008 Heller decision but because it is a unique Federal district the decision only affected Washington DC.

[BartSimpson]

xerxes wrote:

A wide ranging decision to be sure. I wonder just how far the justices want it to go though?

Does this mean that restrictions for convicted felons are unconstitutional too? Is the legal age of majority gone as a control as well? And as for this quote:

"A right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose."

Does this mean all the FOX News viewers out there will say they need a tank to protect themselves from the federal government or a stinger missle to kepp the black helicopters away?

The opinion is limited to small arms needed for self defense in the home and it carefully excluded granting any rights to felons or any other class of people previously subject to due process restrictions.

[BartSimpson]

andyt wrote:

You know, if we weren't so close, it would be kinda fun to watch them blow themselves apart - it would just be a faster version of what they're doing now. But we're going to have to institute a draft so we can post our military at the border to keep out all the refugees streaming north.

Your hyperbole does not mesh with the facts. Every single state that has liberalized gun rights in the past 30 years has seen crime rates decline and then the states that allow concealed carry have seen that carry permit holders are more compliant with gun safety rules and regulations than are the police agencies in those states.

Fact of the matter is, the population of carry permit holders in the USA are more careful with their weapons than are Canadian or US law enforcement.

[commanderkai]

Bart Bart...you're missing the point. Whenever guns are allowed to be purchased by people, people then turn their neighborhoods into Mad Max. We Canadians must be afraid of roaming bands of cannibals and bikers out to kill us

[BartSimpson]

commanderkai wrote:

Bart Bart...you're missing the point. Whenever guns are allowed to be purchased by people, people then turn their neighborhoods into Mad Max. We Canadians must be afraid of roaming bands of cannibals and bikers out to kill us

Funny, Australia didn't actually look like Mad Max until after they banned guns.

[andyt]

Here's somebody who disagrees with you: http://www.snopes.com/crime/statistics/ausguns.asp

Quote:

The over all homicide rate dipped slightly after the buy back program

The homicide rate in Victor is up 300%. First off the article says that it's actually 171%. Then goes on to point out that in a state of 4.5 million people had 7 firearm-related homicides in 1996 and 19 the next year after the buy back program. It makes the case that an additional 12 homicides in 4.5 million people is not statistically significant. And, Australia wide the homicide with firearm rate is lower after the buyback than any time in the 10 years previous.

etc etc. But keep slinging the NRA bullshit.

Certainly, Mad Max seems to live in the US.