The Firearms Coverage Coalition (FPC) has requested the U.S. Supreme Courtroom to weigh in on Cook dinner County, Illinois’ long-standing ban on generally owned semiautomatic rifles just like the AR-15. The case, Viramontes v. Cook dinner County, may turn out to be the defining check of whether or not America’s hottest rifle falls below the total safety of the Second Modification.
“This case is the perfect automobile for the Supreme Courtroom to say—as soon as and for all—that semiautomatic rifles just like the AR-15 are protected by the Structure,” stated FPC President Brandon Combs. “The stakes couldn’t be increased: If the Second Modification doesn’t cowl the preferred rifles in America, then it covers just about nothing in any respect.”
Combs didn’t mince phrases about what’s at stake:
“The Supreme Courtroom should finish this lawless two-step the place politicians ban arms they dislike and judges fake that’s constitutional to rubber-stamp their coverage preferences. The AR-15 is the preferred rifle in America, owned by thousands and thousands of peaceful individuals for lawful functions day by day. The Invoice of Rights shouldn’t be a suggestion, and the Second Modification shouldn’t be a second-class proper. It’s time for the Courtroom to make that unmistakably clear to the decrease courts.”
The Petition’s Argument
In line with the petition, trendy semiautomatic rifles should not simply frequent, however central to the lawful train of the fitting to maintain and bear arms. In truth, AR-15 platform rifles are the only hottest rifles within the nation, and semiauto rifles as an entire path solely semiauto pistols in gross sales.
The submitting stresses the constitutional gravity:
“It’s laborious to think about a court docket of appeals treating some other provision of the Invoice of Rights this fashion. If the Second Modification is to not be relegated to second-class standing, and if it really is meant to raise above all different pursuits the fitting of law-abiding, accountable residents to make use of arms for self-defense, then the choice under have to be overturned.”
Who’s Concerned
FPC is joined on this litigation by two of its members and the Second Modification Basis. The plaintiffs are represented by David H. Thompson, Peter A. Patterson, and William Bergstrom of Cooper & Kirk, PLLC. The FPC Motion Basis offered extra strategic help.
The complete petition and associated case paperwork can be found at firearmspolicy.org/viramontes.
About FPC
The Firearms Coverage Coalition (FPC) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit devoted to defending and advancing particular person liberty. By means of lawsuits, legislative motion, scholarship, and grassroots efforts, FPC has turn out to be one of many main voices in restoring the fitting to maintain and bear arms throughout america.
Our Take
Cook dinner County’s AR-15 ban has been on the books for years, serving extra as political theater than as any significant public security measure. Everybody is aware of criminals aren’t lining up at gun shops to purchase ARs legally, but the county insists on disarming its law-abiding residents whereas crime charges stay sky-high.
This case may lastly give the Supreme Courtroom an opportunity to place an finish to the limitless sport of “ban first, justify later” that anti-gun politicians play. The AR-15 shouldn’t be some obscure or fringe weapon—it’s the preferred rifle within the nation. Hundreds of thousands of Individuals personal them, prepare with them, and depend on them for sport, looking, and protection. Pretending they fall exterior the Second Modification is as absurd as saying free speech doesn’t apply to the web as a result of the Founders by no means noticed the place the evolution of know-how would go.
If SCOTUS takes this case, the choice may reshape your entire nationwide dialog on so-called “assault weapon” bans. Decrease courts have been ducking, dodging, and inventing hoops to maintain these legal guidelines alive. It’s time for some readability—and hopefully, some constitutional spine from the justices.
