1. Coalition to Stop Gun Violence
1023 15th
Street, N.W., Suite 301
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: 202-408-0061
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ladd Everitt
Director of Communications
bleveritt@csgv.org
June XX, 2008, Washington, D.C. – The Supreme Court announced today its ruling in Heller v.
District of Columbia. This case examined the meaning of the Second Amendment and citizens’
personal rights to bear firearms. In its decision, the Supreme Court struck down Washington
D.C.’s hand gun ban. In examining regulation of firearms by federal and state governments, the
Court also applied a strict scrutiny standard for regulation.
This ruling will likely change the tone and direction of the nation’s political battles over gun
control. It will likely affect other gun bans across the country. State governments will likely be
forced to abolish gun bans and alter gun control laws. In their effort to provide for public safety,
state and municipal officers will likely become less stringent with current gun laws.
We at the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence (EFSGV) do not agree with the Court’s
decision, and we will now focus a large effort to defend existing gun laws. We believe that the
ideological shift in the Court is largely responsible for this extreme decision.
“It’s not at all uncommon for a legislative provision or a constitutional provision to go further
than is necessary for the principal purpose involved,” said Justice Scalia. “The principal purpose
here is the militia, but the second clause goes beyond the militia and says the right of the people
to keep and bear arms. You may say the kind of arms is colored by the militia. But it speaks of
the right of the people.”
The Supreme Court emphasized that government is not entirely barred from regulating the use
and ownership of guns. The protections of the Second Amendment are subject to the same sort
of reasonable restrictions that have been recognized as limiting, for instance, the First
Amendment.
***Quote from Ladd Everitt, or other gun control expert about the repercussions of the ruling.
Must be a positive message.***
If you are interested in learning more about our efforts or joining in the fight against gun
violence, please visit our Web site at http://www.efsgv.org.
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