A (Probable) Victory for the Bill of Rights

After hearing arguments on the 2nd. Amendment, it appears that a majority of the Supreme Court believe that gun ownership is a right and is not tied to service in a state militia.

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court has heard arguments about the meaning of the Second Amendment and the Districts of Columbia's ban on handguns.

A majority appears to support the view that the amendment protects an individual's right to own guns, rather than somehow linking right to service in a state militia.

But it is less clear what that means for the District's 32-year-old ban on handguns, perhaps the strictest gun control law in the nation.

"Does that make it unreasonable for a city with a very high crime rate...to say no handguns here?" Justice Stephen Breyer said.

Thank god.

Updated:

The basic issue for the justices is whether the amendment protects an individual's right to own guns no matter what, or whether that right is somehow tied to service in a state militia.

A key justice, Anthony Kennedy, seemed to settle that question early on when he said the Second Amendment gives "a general right to bear arms." He is likely to be joined by Roberts and Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas — a majority of the nine-member court.