Alaska organization weighs in on Supreme Court gun decision
Published Monday, April 7, 2008
An Alaska sportsman’s organization has filed a legal brief supporting an individual’s right of gun ownership in a case with national implications before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The court is reviewing District of Columbia’s gun ownership ordinances. The Alaska Outdoor Council, an umbrella organization encompassing several Alaska outdoor associations, has filed a friend of the court brief stating the council supports an individual’s right to keep and bear arms.
The Supreme Court is reviewing a case in which a lower court ruled the District of Columbia’s ordinances violated the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The case involves a security guard who carries a handgun on duty but is not allowed to have one in his D.C. home. Proponents of gun ownership and those opposed are interested in the case. The issue at stake is the Supreme Court’s interpretation as to whether the Second Amendment’s intention was to provide individuals the right to possess firearms for self-defense or for forming a state militia. “It’s quite a decision,” said Juneau attorney Jack McGee, who donated his time to prepare the brief for the Alaska Outdoor Council.
McGee, a recreational shooting enthusiast, said that if the Supreme Court rules in favor of the district’s ordinances “there will be no private protection to keep and bear arms.”
The brief can be reviewed online at http://dcguncase.com/blog/case-filings/. Scroll down to the “Amici for Respondent” listing and click on Alaska Outdoor Council, et al.
Contact News-Miner intern Cary Curlee at 459-7504 or ccurlee@newsminer.com.
Community Discussion
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Thanks Jack! Should be more people on the Outdoor Council than there are. It is very much like: get involved and vote, or your life won't be your own.
WAKE UP AMERICANS!!! The authors of our constitution...I like to call them our "founding fathers" other people called them insurgents, granted us this sacred right in order for WE AMERICANS to protect ourselves from GOVERMENT,TYRANNY and the sloths that would break into our homes. No matter whether it be personal ownership or a militia. Also remember A well armed militia was encouraged to be a true American, not labeled as a terrorist as it is today.
Remember this people..."Tyranny travels on cats paws"
Look at DC's murder rate. Outlawing guns there made things much worse. Australia has seen a massive increase in gun crime since outlawing personal ownership. I am not a hunter, and not a gun wacko, but I feel that law abiding citizens should be able to keep weapons on their person, and bad guys beware! No country would dare invade the US for that reason, but our worst enemy could be liberals in this country who want to pussify the US.
I think I will join the NRA.
Wow.... this blows me away. We have to fight! Like 2cold2me said about Australia.... and DC its true you can look at the figures. Taking away guns is going to make everything worse. Think about this way... If someone comes in your house in the middle of the nite.. and you have a daughter, and son, and wife.. or a husband. THis guy comes in with a weapon of his chose... and he going to beat you or shoot to death or even rape your daughter or wife!! Don't you want a gun close by???!! To protect your home, your family and honor! Come on! ANd if you take away guns they are still going to find their way to bad guy's hands! Called black market, illegal trade offs.... just like drugs. We are in alaska and I know how most of us are Hunting, gun shooting, supporting High school, UAF, and 4-H .22 groups! Don't forget who we are as ALASKANS and as AMERICANS. Join the fight to save our right to bear arms! And pass this article to your friends and family!!
Personally, I think keeping guns legal is the best way to control them. To amplify what akflygirl says, look how well we're controlling drugs. Guns aren't about to go away. There are plenty of countries where gun ownership is restricted or outlawed, and AK-47s can be had on any street. I'm not blind to the harm that people do to our society when they misuse guns, nor am I denying that the problem seems to be getting worse. But if the trade is above ground and legal, it's a whole lot easier to keep tabs on it.
The trick is to keep guns out of the hands of violent felons (who will get them legally or otherwise) and the seriously mentally ill. Anyone have suggestions for this? In my opinion, that's where we need to focus our energies.
gmanalaska
I agree with you with in principle but I must point out a commonly misunderstood portion of our birthright. Our Founding Fathers didn't "grant" us anything.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
You and I have had the good fortune of being born in the greatest land the world has ever seen. We must be ever vigilant so as to ensure "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is always there for all Americans.
Many have warned about the inherent dangers of ALL governments. James Madison said "I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.... The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home."
"We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals,
so that security and liberty may prosper together."
Dwight Eisenhower
"Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."
Thomas Jefferson
Something else to ponder as our government continues to print BILLIONS of dollars for subsidies, bailouts and pork barrel legislation. "I have the Confederacy before me, and the bankers behind me, and for my country I fear the bankers most." Abraham Lincoln.
Recently, General "Ike" said, "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist."
The mistakes have been made before. American has paid for them with the blood and loss of her sons and daughters. We MUST NOT REPEAT the past.
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