People Have A 'Fundamental Right' To Own Assault Weapons, Co

[Spartan]

In a major victory for gun rights advocates, a federal appeals court on Thursday sided with a broad coalition of gun owners, businesses and organizations that challenged the constitutionality of a Maryland ban on assault weapons and other laws aimed at curbing gun violence.


A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit said the state's prohibition on what the court called "the vast majority of semi-automatic rifles commonly kept by several million American citizens" amounted to a violation of their rights under the Constitution.

"In our view, Maryland law implicates the core protection of the Second Amendment -- the right of law-abiding responsible citizens to use arms in defense of hearth and home," Chief Judge William Traxler wrote in the divided ruling.


http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/people ... spartandhp

[LarryP]

[Jackpine Savage]

I sure hope it stands.

[Lumpy]

As I heard it, the ruling states that any restrictions on guns must pass a "Strict Scrutiny" test- the level of protection accorded to freedom of speech, assembly and the press. IOW, the government finally has to admit that the 2nd really is part of the "Bill of Rights".

Of course since this is contradicted by other district rulings, it just means it might eventually go to the Supreme Court- which despite Heller and McDonald has been extraordinarily reluctant to question states' long-standing restrictions on firearms.