OCAGV Press release on the SC ruling on the Second Amendment 6-26-08

Court rules the Second Amendment does not prohibit common sense!

Toledo, Ohio: The US Supreme Court ruled today on the meaning of the Second Amendment in regards to the banning of handguns in Washington, DC. Contrary to all courts before them, their ruling decided the meaning of this controversial amendment is to give individuals the right to own firearms rather than interpret the ownership to a collective militia. Ohio already gives an individual right to own a firearm.

"Although we at OCAGV do not agree with the new interpretation we will be glad to have the use of the second amendment as a smoke screen come to an end," said Executive Director of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, Toby Hoover.

Barbara Hohlt, Executive Director of States United to Prevent Gun Violence, said, "For years the gun lobby has continually used the second amendment as an excuse to oppose any reasonable regulations on guns that could prevent death and injuries. They will no longer have their rhetoric of taking their guns away to use against reason and responsibility."

The gun lobby has opposed every common sense gun law, using their mantra of the second amendment gives them the right and any regulation will take their guns away. Although we do not agree that the writers of the second amendment were referring to an individual right, the court has ruled.

But the Supreme Court also said that cities and states may pass reasonable gun legislation. Laws that stop gun trafficking make guns child proof, mandate a background check on all sales and purchases, keep guns out of the hands of people that are a danger to themselves or others and even banning certain kinds of guns like machine guns, 50 caliber guns and assault weapons are still not against the US constitution.

Toby Hoover, Executive Director of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence said: "Legislators can no longer say they can't restrict firearms because of the 2nd amendment. Now they can concentrate on common sense ways to reduce gun violence."