The supream court upheld (sort of) our rights to own guns today.  They ruled against the 32 year old handgun ban in the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.).  The interpretation of the court basically stated that citizens have the right to own guns for hunting and home defense – and the right to own guns is in no way tied to being active in an organized militia.  This is a major ruling that limits the ability to take away guns from law abiding citizens.  However, the court did state that the ruling should not overrule individual restrictions such as licensing, carrying guns in government buildings / schools etc. and also the right of the government to restrict guns for felons and mentally ill persons.

I feel that the courts have done a very thorough job in this case and have upheld the constitution.  My worries are that now the government will raise restrictions on the sales of weapons, ban more specific types and make it harder for most citizens to obtain a gun.  These are the small losses that could be hidden in the big picture.  However, it is not the supreme courts job to legislate from the bench, so they could not make a case against other such restrictions etc.

I am a gun owner and am proud that my country protects my freedom to own a weapon.  I personally do not hunt, but I do believe that people have the right to hunt.  I fully support a hunters rights to legally hunt animals either for protection of their land, homes, family, fields and animals as well as hunting for food.  I do not condone hunting for pure sport and wasting animal life.

In conclusion – Constitutional Right to Bear Arms +1