Hatch Hails Supreme Court Ruling to Strike Down D.C. Handgun Ban

Press Release

HATCH HAILS SUPREME COURT RULING TO STRIKE DOWN D.C. HANDGUN BAN

WASHINGTON - In a 5-4 decision today, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a 32-year-old law that bans handguns in Washington, D.C. Today's historic decision in the District of Columbia v. Heller recognized for the first time that the Constitution's Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), an unflinching advocate for the Second Amendment and the nation's 93 million gun owners, hailed the landmark ruling.

"The court's ruling properly upholds Americans' right to bear arms," Hatch said. "This is a landmark event in America's constitutional history. The district's law amounted to a complete ban on ownership and possession of a usable firearm. This is an affront to any community that respects the rights of persons to defend themselves and their families. Responsible gun ownership is a deterrent to crime. By securing the constitutional rights of the district's citizens, the court has provided individuals and families with the legal protections they need to safeguard themselves."

Six D.C. residents filed suit against the district in 2003 to challenge the comprehensive ban on handguns. The lawsuit was initially dismissed, but later on appeal the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed and found that the district's ban violated the personal right to gun ownership guaranteed by the Second Amendment. The Supreme Court's decision upholds that reversal.

Hatch is pleased that the court took the opportunity to overturn such an obviously unconstitutional law, recognizing the commonsense understanding of the Constitution held by most Americans.

"This decision was a no-brainer," the senator said. "This is not a liberal or conservative issue. Leading liberal law professors have argued for years that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to gun ownership. And ultimately, the millions of Americans who own guns today — and who have responsibly used them since the beginning of the republic — are the best testament to the wisdom of this decision. Contrary to the elitist views of some, Utahns cherish their rights to bear arms, not because they are bitter, but because of their commitment to their families, communities and Constitutional liberties."

Hatch hopes the high court's ruling will also discourage other political communities from maintaining or establishing handgun bans. He plans on working with his colleagues to ensure that, consistent with the Supreme Court's ruling, the district's citizens will soon be able to own firearms for personal protection.

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