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The Supreme Court is widely expected to strike down Chicago’s handgun ban. It’s a decision many are predicting will be monumental in determining states’ rights in future gun-control measures.
We're looking at perspectives from The New York Times, MSNBC, NPR, WLS-TV and ABC
The lawsuit’s predecessor, District of Columbia V. Heller, struck down D.C.’s handgun ban and protected the right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment.
"Heller was groundbreaking, this is a fairly straightforward application of Heller. Most of the amendments, but not all of them, in the Bill of Rights have been applied to the states. So while this may be consequential, groundbreaking happened in 2008." (New York Times)
NBC’s Pete Williams says the outcome of the case will put gun laws under the microscope all over the country.
"Many other cities have strict handgun laws too. And now the Supreme Court is going to say, does that right, that individual right to own a gun, apply outside Washington D.C. or only here? So it really widens the debate over handguns and the Second Amendment to the entire country Andrea, and that's why it's so important."
In an interview with NPR, Chicago's Deputy Corporation Counsel says the federal government shouldn't interfere with state laws on this issue.
"In addition to the provisions in the Bill of Rights, the founders created a government of states, within a federal system. And the prerogatives of state and local governments to enact regulations that they deem best for their local communities is actually a very important constitutional value."
A DePaul University law professor agrees, telling ABC affiliate WLS-TV 7 he believes Chicago will lose this case. But like other cities, it can still have some control of how guns are used.
"Many people believe that this is not an area where the Supreme Court should be looking over the shoulders of the states and local subdivisions...Chicago will just have to enact as many gun regulations as possible, short of banning the possession of handguns."
But a gun-control advocate tells ABC News the courts have already shown they will provide those new controls ... The court made it very clear that the Second Amendment right is not unlimited and that there could be restrictions on who gets guns, where they take guns, what kind of guns they get, how they're carried, how they're stored, how they're sold."
So, do you think the Court's decision will have a positive or negative effect on state gun laws?
Writer: Victoria Uwumarogie
Producer: Newsy Staff
