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Peoria, Ill. —
U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria) wondered out loud yesterday why it takes a U.S. Supreme Court decision to affirm a basic right granted us under the Bill of Rights.
Schock is right on the money with his query.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision yesterday in the case McDonald v. City of Chicago Schock said the court rightfully extended the reach of the Constitutional right to keep and bear arms to all 50 states:
“Today, the Supreme Court ruled that individuals have a Constitutional right to own handguns no matter where they live in the United States. This is a ruling that is deeply rooted in the traditions of this nation and makes certain that no individual has this right taken from them by repressive local governments ... With the handgun being the most prevalent form of self-defense in our nation, I am pleased that our nation’s highest court has ruled that Constitutional rights apply throughout the nation and may not be abridged by overreaching local governments. However, I am still concerned that it took a decision from our nation’s highest court in order to affirm a right given to us by the Constitution."
Schock is surely not alone in that concern.
We have far too many elected officials who feel their judgement should surpass the judgement of framers of our Constitution. That results in cases like this one which try to strip us of basic rights.
“As many have seen in the wake of the decision in DC v Heller, many government officials still do not want to grant individuals their Constitutional rights though they were affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States. In the District of Columbia they have done this by instituting some of the most rigorous regulations on firearms registration anywhere in our nation. These regulations do nothing but hinder good legal citizens in their efforts to ensure they are able to defend themselves. One only has to look at the District of Columbia to know that a handgun ban does not inhibit criminals from committing violent crime."
DeWayne Bartels is news editor of the Woodford Times.
U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria) wondered out loud yesterday why it takes a U.S. Supreme Court decision to affirm a basic right granted us under the Bill of Rights.
Schock is right on the money with his query.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision yesterday in the case McDonald v. City of Chicago Schock said the court rightfully extended the reach of the Constitutional right to keep and bear arms to all 50 states:
“Today, the Supreme Court ruled that individuals have a Constitutional right to own handguns no matter where they live in the United States. This is a ruling that is deeply rooted in the traditions of this nation and makes certain that no individual has this right taken from them by repressive local governments ... With the handgun being the most prevalent form of self-defense in our nation, I am pleased that our nation’s highest court has ruled that Constitutional rights apply throughout the nation and may not be abridged by overreaching local governments. However, I am still concerned that it took a decision from our nation’s highest court in order to affirm a right given to us by the Constitution."
Schock is surely not alone in that concern.
We have far too many elected officials who feel their judgement should surpass the judgement of framers of our Constitution. That results in cases like this one which try to strip us of basic rights.
“As many have seen in the wake of the decision in DC v Heller, many government officials still do not want to grant individuals their Constitutional rights though they were affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States. In the District of Columbia they have done this by instituting some of the most rigorous regulations on firearms registration anywhere in our nation. These regulations do nothing but hinder good legal citizens in their efforts to ensure they are able to defend themselves. One only has to look at the District of Columbia to know that a handgun ban does not inhibit criminals from committing violent crime."
DeWayne Bartels is news editor of the Woodford Times.
