WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. John Tanner made the following
remarks in the Congressional Record following the U.S. Supreme Court
decision overturning a handgun ban in the District of Columbia.
Mr. TANNER. Madam Speaker, I
rise today to offer my support for the decision made by the U.S. Supreme
Court to uphold an individual’s right to keep and bear arms. Today, the
Court rightly struck down the ban on handguns in the District of Columbia.
Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have co-sponsored legislation to end
this ban, which contradicts the Second Amendment rights guaranteed to all
Americans by the U.S. Constitution.
In issuing its decree, the
Court protected the right of a sportsman to have a shotgun in his home and
affirmed the right of a homeowner to keep a handgun to protect his family
and property from intruders. Our Founding Fathers fought and died for the
individual liberties we all enjoy – among them, the right of the citizens
of this country to possess firearms.
We are not given the latitude
to pick which of those liberties we choose to follow or enforce, be it the
freedom to speak or the freedom to worship. Like those fundamental
freedoms, we cannot dismiss or dilute the right to keep and bear arms.
As an avid hunter and strong
gun rights advocate, I applaud the Court for its decision. I look forward
to continuing our work in Congress to protect the integrity of the Second
Amendment.