Recently the US Supreme Court decided, in District of Columbia v. Heller, that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protects an individual’s right to possess a firearm for private use.
The court then held that the Second Amendment “protects an individual right to keep and bear arms”, saying that the right was “premised on the private use of arms for activities such as hunting and self-defense, the latter being understood as resistance to either private lawlessness or the depredations of a tyrannical government (or a threat from abroad).”
The opinion of the court, delivered by Justice Scalia, was joined by Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. and by Justices Anthony M. Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr.
Justice Stevens’ dissent was joined by Justices David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Stephen Breyer.
First, let’s take a look at the 2008 Supreme Court:
Then let’s substitute the President that nominated the particular Justice to the Supreme Court:
Now let’s see which President nominated a Justice that agreed with the Supreme Court that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protects an individual’s right:
Finally let’s look at which President nominated a Justice that disagreed with the Supreme Court that the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution protects an individual’s right:
Notice any patterns?
The more Conservative Presidents nominated Justices that interpreted the Second Amendment to apply to individuals. The more Liberal Presidents nominated Justices that interpreted the Second Amendment to apply to the government.
Which shouldn’t surprise many people because Conservatives tend to place more importance in individuals whereas Liberals tend to place more importance on the government.
Just imagine how the Supreme Court would have been populated, and therefore what decision in District of Columbia v. Heller they would have made, if Gore had beat Bush in 2000.
So when you vote in November, and whether or not you actually go to the polls you will be casting a vote, even through you may not personally prefer either candidate, will you be asking for more rights for individuals or more rights for the government?
Supreme Court, Second Amendment, Constitution, firearm, Scalia, Conservative, Liberal
