District of the Columbia vs. Heller

is the first time that self-defense is taken to be 'central' to an individual's second amendment right. Previously, most courts had understood the functioning of a 'well-regulated militia' (which appears in the amendment), not 'self-defense' (which does not), to underlie the right to 'keep and bear arms.

Gun advocates' fear about Justice Scalia's replacement derives from the fact that Scalia penned the most gun-friendly opinion in the Supreme Court's 200-plus-year history. In that case, District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court struck down Washington, D.C.'s ban on the possession of operable handguns in the home and held, for the first time, that self-defense is 'central' to an individual's Second Amendment right. Previously, most courts had understood the functioning of a 'well-regulated militia' (which appears in the Amendment), not 'self-defense' (which does not), to underlie the right to 'keep and bear arms.'

district of the columbia vs. heller, n.All

district of the columbia vs. heller