Skip Navigation
      Links
Water-level view of Reelfoot Lake at dusk, link to Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee
Home Page

Biography
Committees
Constituent Services
Contact Information
District Information
Legislation
Press Releases

Camera, Photo Album link
Photo Album

Press Releases

June 26, 2008

TANNER PRAISES SUPREME COURT RULING
UPHOLDING SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS

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.

SUPPORTING THE SUPREME COURT RULING
ON SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS

HON. JOHN TANNER
OF TENNESSEE
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Thursday, June 26, 2008

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.

Tanner represents Tennessee’s 8th Congressional district in West and Middle Tennessee.

# # #

Contact: Randy Ford, 202.225.4714

     

Biography | Committees | Constituent Services | Contact Information | District Information | Legislation | Press Releases