preview

Media Analysis: High Court Strikes Down Gun Ban

Decent Essays

Media Analysis: High Court Strikes Down Gun Ban On June 26, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that people should be able to defend themselves. Banning handguns in the nation’s capital was a ruling decided by President Bush. The major question was, is this going again the Second Amendment of the citizens? The justices decided against the ban with a 5-4 vote. Although many were upset with this decision, one stated, “I’m very happy that I am not able to defend myself and my household in my own home.” The court declared that it was still illegal to carry handguns outside and all pistols must be registered with the police. In January, Bush signed the first major gun control legislation in 14 years, stating that there should be stricter background …show more content…

Supreme Court. Other government officials in the article include the Police, Chief Justice, John Roberts and other justices such as Antonin Scalia, John Paul Stevens and Stephen Breyer. There are also other actors such as Washing Mayor Adrian Fenty, lead plaintiff, Dick Heller, Paul Helmke of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun violence and The National Rifle Association. The president’s main interest is to do what is best for the people of the United States, including Chief Executive, Chief Legislator and Chief Diplomat. The Supreme Court is the head of the judicial branch, established by the Constitution. Their job is to ensure the laws made are constitutional, while also having jurisdiction. Chief Justice is basically the superior of the justices, finalizing the decisions. The justice’s role is to interpret the laws passed by Congress, while serves for as long as they would like. The police’s role is to enforce the laws upon the people. Finally, The NRA just simply wants to protect the second …show more content…

The Supreme Court has the jurisdiction to hear the case, under the appellate jurisdiction. Once the legal briefs were submitted, the “Rule of Four” is required, meaning that four of the nine justices would like to hear the case. After the four justices agree, the case is determined justiciable. The Supreme Court then receives all documents from the lower courts, reviewing the lower federal court’s decision. After discussion, justices Scalia, Roberts, Alito, Thomas and Kennedy, were against the ban, while Stevens, Breyer, Ginsburg and Souter ruled for. Once the 5-4 decision was made, Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the majority opinion, which explains the final judgment, stating that “the majority was sympathetic to Washington’s problems with guns and crime but banning handguns was not a solution”. In 1791, The Bill of Rights was written containing the second amendment, stating” A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed”. Since passed, the Courts have avoided the question whether gun ownership is an individual right. Although most justices felt okay about the agreement, Breyer had a concern that “the majority would jeopardize the constitutionality of gun laws throughout the nation”, meaning that he had a dissenting

Get Access