Chicago Shootout

It seems that the Supreme Court issued a ruling today that, in effect, says that the ban on handguns in Chicago is unconstitutional. Good for them. But it also leaves open that other types of restrictions on guns in general would still be allowed. Again, good for them. Well, at least for the five justices that voted in favor of this decision. They voted for the Constitution, the dissenters voted against it.

This should be no surprise to anyone, but I own guns. Several guns in fact. I own three handguns. Two I carry for work, one for off duty. I have a rifle for work, one for target shooting. I also own three shotguns, one for home defense, two for hunting either birds or other small game. As I typed this, I must admit that I was surprised by the total number. But still, I am an advocate for gun ownership.

I don't care that folks own guns for home and/or self defense, target shooting and hunting. I do care that folks might own guns that aren't for any of the aforementioned activities. I don't think that a person should have fully automatic weapons or weapons that are used only for the hunting of people. I do own a rifle (the one I carry at work) that is not necessarily one used for hunting. On the magazine well it is stamped, "Restricted military/government law enforcement use only." If I wasn't a police officer there would be no reason for me to own this rifle. It has no other practical purpose.

But the other guns that I own do have a practical purpose. So if the government tried to take my guns away because they deem them to be offensive, then we have a real problem. The Constitution guarantees us the right to "keep and bear Arms" and that this right, "shall not be infringed." The Chicago ban on handguns did infringe on that right.

I am okay if Chicago wants to ban the carrying of concealed weapons. That is an issue for each individual state and/or city. But the state cannot prohibit ownership of guns to those that are eligible. Period. The four dissenters should read the Second Amendment.

So after Elana Kagan takes a course in public speaking, she can read the decision and take her place on the left side of the court.