[clue-talk] Heller

[David Rudder]

Heller is a ruling from the Supreme Court.  It shot down Washington DC's 
gun control laws, specifically because it's unconstitutional to tell 
someone they have to have trigger locks on guns inside their home.  
Also, DC had some pretty strict rules on who could register a gun, 
basically amounting to a city-wide ban on handguns, "but authorizes the 
police chief to issue 1-year licenses".  Heller was denied the right to 
register a gun, so he sued.

Here's the ruling:
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07pdf/07-290.pdf

On one hand. this seems to me to be a perfect example of judicial 
activism.  The gun control laws were made by the dutifully elected 
officials of DC.  They were trod upon by the appointed elite of the 
SCOTUS.  SCOTUS further explicitly denied the original intent of the 
constitution and decided that the states' constitutions provided a 
better legal guide than the federal constitution we all know.  Another 
instance of the twisted reasoning this court will go through to justify 
their own political agendas.

On the other hand, it also seems pretty clear that a city shouldn't be 
able to ban guns except for those the chief of police allows.  I would 
have preferred a ruling which said "the chief of police can't be the 
only person allowed to authorize registration of guns".  That's just 
ridiculous, and Heller had every right to be pissed.  Heller was a cop!  
A "D. C. special policeman", according to the SCOTUS opinion.  What 
idiot decided we need to keep guns out of the hands of the police?

In the end, I don't see this affecting us.  The real effect is that 
Denver can't tell us we can't own guns.  But, I don't think Denver was 
going to, no matter how blue the state goes.  And most of this list 
lives in places south of Denver, which are even less likely to ban 
guns.  Maybe Boulder, but if you're a gun enthusiast...*don't move to 
Boulder*. 

-Dave

Nate Duehr wrote:
> Jed S. Baer wrote:
>> I'm a little surprised that nobody is talking about the Heller ruling.
>
> Probably 'cause I have no clue what it is.  :-)
>
> Nate
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