In a landmark decision, on Monday, June 28, 2010, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of an individual’s right to bear arms as protected by the Second Amendment. 

The McDonald vs. City of Chicago, Illinois ruling stated that the right to have a handgun is “fundamental from an American perspective [and] applies equally to the federal government and the states.”  This is in keeping with earlier court decisions ruling that the Bill of Rights applies to cities and states. 

In the majority opinion, written by Justice Samuel Alito Jr., the court noted crime data from Chicago “reveal that the city’s handgun murder rate has actually increased since the bas was enacted and that Chicago residents now face one of the highest murder rates in the country.”

Chicago’s gun restrictions included a ban on handguns.

I agree with the right of Mr. McDonald and other law abiding citizens to own handguns.  That is why I signed onto an amicus brief in September 2009 stating my support.

Click here to view the Amicus Brief I supported.  (9/09)

Click here to read the Supreme Court’s opinion. (6/10) 

Click here to read the transcript's of the case's oral arguments from March 2010. (3/10)