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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 2 deceMber 2019

Justices take up gun case, though disputed law has changed

By MARK SHERMAN gal rationale, potentially
Associated Press putting at risk regulations
WASHINGTON (AP) — The about who can carry guns
Supreme Court is turning to in public, limits on large-ca-
gun rights for the first time pacity ammunition maga-
in nearly a decade, even zines and perhaps even re-
though those who brought strictions on gun ownership
the case, New York City by convicted criminals, in-
gun owners, already have cluding people convicted
won changes to the regu- of domestic violence.
lation they challenged. "This approach to the Sec-
The justices' persistence in ond Amendment would
hearing arguments Mon- treat gun rights as an ab-
day despite the city's ac- solute right, frozen in histo-
tion has made gun control ry, and not subject to any
advocates fearful that the restrictions as public safety
court's conservative major- demands," said Hannah
ity could use the case to Shearer, litigation director
call into question gun re- at the Giffords Law Center
strictions across the coun- to Prevent Gun Violence.
try. Reflecting the possible high
Gun rights groups are hop- stakes, more than three
ing the high court is on the dozen supporting legal
verge of extending its land- briefs have been filed. The
mark rulings from 2008 and Trump administration, 25
2010 that enshrined the mainly Republican states
right to have a gun for self- and 120 members of the
defense at home. House of Representatives
For years, the National Rifle are on the side of the gun
Association and its allies In this Oct. 10, 2017, file photo, the Supreme Court in Washington, at sunset. The Supreme Court is owners.
had tried to get the court to turning to gun rights for the first time in nearly a decade, even though New York City gun owners A dozen Democratic-led
say more about gun rights, already have won changes to a regulation they challenged in court. states and 139 House law-
even as mass shootings Associated Press makers back the city. In ad-
may have caused the jus- dition, Sen. Sheldon White-
tices to shy away from tak- of President Donald Trump. the case, although the sons." In the event the court house, D-R.I., a vocal court
ing on new disputes over Officials at both the city justices are likely to ask at reaches the substance of critic, filed a brief joined by
gun limits. Justice Clarence and state level scrambled arguments about wheth- the law, the city does con- four Senate Democratic
Thomas has been among to find a way to remove er there's anything left for tend that what it calls its colleagues that asked the
members of the court who the case from the justices' them to decide. "former rule" did not violate justices to dismiss the case
have complained that low- grasp. Not only did the city Paul Clement, who rep- the Constitution. But that and resist being drawn into
er courts are treating the change its regulation to al- resents three New York would seem to be a tough what he called a political
Second Amendment's right low licensed gun owners residents and New York's sell given the court's make- project.
to "keep and bear arms" as to transport their weapons National Rifle Association up, with Gorsuch and, in Whitehouse also included
a second-class right. to locations outside New affiliate challenging the particular, Kavanaugh on a warning to the justices.
The lawsuit in New York be- York's five boroughs, but transportation ban, said in the court. "The Supreme Court is not
gan as a challenge to the the state enacted a law an email that among the Kavanaugh voted in dis- well. And the people know
city's prohibition on carry- barring cities from imposing reasons the case remains sent when his federal ap- it. Perhaps the Court can
ing a licensed, locked and the challenged restrictions. alive legally is that the court peals court upheld the Dis- heal itself before the public
unloaded handgun out- "There is no case or contro- frowns on tactical moves trict of Columbia's ban on demands it be 'restructured
side the city limits, either to versy because New York of the sort employed by semi-automatic rifles. in order to reduce the influ-
a shooting range or a sec- City has repealed the or- the city and state that are "Gun bans and gun regu- ence of politics,'" he wrote,
ond home. dinance and the New York meant to frustrate the jus- lations that are not long- quoting a public opinion
Lower courts upheld the state Legislature has acted tices' review of an issue. standing or sufficiently root- poll showing support for
regulation, but the Su- to make sure it remains re- In addition, he wrote, that ed in text, history, and tradi- such changes.
preme Court's decision in pealed," said Jonathan "the City still views firearm tion are not consistent with All 53 Republican senators
January to step into the Lowy, chief counsel and ownership as a privilege the Second Amendment responded with a letter
case signaled a revived in- vice president of the gun and not a fundamental individual right," Kavana- urging the court not to be
terest in gun rights from a control group Brady's legal right and is still in the busi- ugh wrote in 2011. cowed by the Democrats'
court with two new justices, action project. ness of limiting transport Gun control advocates threats.
Neil Gorsuch and Brett Ka- But those moves failed to and denying licenses for a worry that the court could A decision is expected by
vanaugh, both appointees get the court to dismiss host of discretionary rea- adopt Kavanaugh's le- late June.q