News Views

Supreme Court Ruling: A Defeat for the NRA

by Guest Contributor December 10, 2015

by Guest Contributor December 10, 2015 3 minutes read

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Photo courtesy of The Big Bang Store located in Coral Springs.

By: Roy Trachtenberg

It was a legal victory for those that back gun legislation when the Supreme Court upheld the right of a city to restrict the sale and ban of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.

These are the types of guns that have been used in mass shootings from Sandy Hook to San Bernardino. The court, by a majority vote of 7 – 2 decided not to consider an appeal by gun rights advocates and let stand a law by Highland Park, Ill. that banned the sale or possession of semi automatic guns that carry more than ten rounds in a single ammunition clip or magazine.

This suggests that the majority of the court does not see the Second Amendment as protecting a right to own or carry powerful weapons in public.

It’s a defeat for the NRA because this suggests that the majority of the court does not see the Second Amendment as protecting a right to own or carry powerful weapons in public.” in other words, This is the first time that the Supreme Court sided with gun control advocates (the city) by refusing to hear an appeal by the NRA gun advocates. It also indicates that the Second Amendment, which talks about the right to bear arms, does not apply to individual citizens but to State Militia. The Supreme Court did not directly state that, but by refusing to hear the appeal it can be implied.

According to Adam Winkler, UCLA law professor, “The court’s decision will encourage gun control advocates to push more cities and states to enact assault weapons bans.”

Coral Springs city commissioners have received emails and requests that the city pass a law banning these very same type of assault weapons, however, City Attorney John said that the State of Florida is one of the few states that have passed NRA supported laws that bar cities and counties from passing gun control laws. Many gun control advocates believe that this Florida law is unconstitutional.

According to bradycampaign.org, “Millions of guns are sold every year with “no questions asked” transactions. Only 60 percent of all gun sales are conducted with a background check.” In Florida, private sales such as gun show sales are not subject to background checks. Today, eight states have background checks across all gun sales. Florida should do the same thing.

Every day, 89 people die from gun violence. Policies such as expanding background checks to cover all gun sales and transactions would help keep guns out of the hands of criminals, felons, domestic abusers, and other illegal purchasers. Background checks are supported by 90 percent of Americans, including the vast majority of gun owners, because they make us all safer.

If Coral Springs can pass a law banning assault weapons with more than ten rounds in a single ammunition clip or magazine, and have complete background check of all gun transactions, this may prevent a tragedy such as what happened in California. However, they can’t because of the NRA influenced gun laws that can only be passed on a state level. This may change through the Supreme Court interpretation of the Second Amendment.

It’s a start at sane legal gun control laws.