A federal judge has upheld a package of strict firearms regulations that went into effect in Maryland last year.
In a 47-page opinion issued Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Catherine C. Blake said the law “seeks to address a serious risk of harm to law enforcement officers and the public from the greater power to injure and kill presented by assault weapons and large capacity magazines.”
Judge Blake, appointed by President Clinton, agreed with lawyers for the state, who held that assault weapons and large-capacity magazines “fall outside Second Amendment protection as dangerous and unusual arms.” She also pointed out that the plaintiffs could not produce a single example in which an assault weapon or more than 10 rounds of ammunition were “used or useful” in an instance of self-defense in Maryland.
The opinion cites statistics showing that ownership of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines is comparatively rare and yet they are “disproportionately represented in mass shootings” as well as the murders of law-enforcement personnel.
“Upon review of all the parties’ evidence, the court seriously doubts that the banned assault long guns are commonly possessed for lawful purposes, particularly self-defense in the home, which is at the core of the Second Amendment right, and is inclined to find the weapons fall outside Second Amendment protection as dangerous and unusual,” Judge Blake wrote.
Hard to disagree with this decision. Unless of course you are an Ammosexual who thinks that having a military style weapon is the only way that you can express your manliness.
I have to imagine that the NRA is going to drop a load of ammunition in their pants over this on.
While I applaud the decision, and the laws, I have to question her view of the 2nd amendment. It was never intended 'for self-defense in the home,' which is what the NRA uses as their defense all the time. Nowhere in that amendment is a home even mentioned. It was to ensure that the USA had the ability to call up men with their rifles, in case we were attacked again. But she is right that long guns are not meant for private homeowners, nor should they be openly carrried by citizens to intimidate other citizens.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this one, and I would add that the focus of that amendment is on a militia being necessary for the defence of the country. Since this is not the case anymore (that is the role of the military), the 2nd amendment is obsolete. I find this self evident and don't understand why this is not talked about more often.
DeleteMaryland Governor Martin O'Malley is currently, wisely laying low, but he could emerge as a viable 2016 presidential candidate.
ReplyDeleteImagine how many survivors there would be among the marchers if there was a Black Man Open Carry March through a white ward.
ReplyDeleteThis may send Wayne over the ledge's edge. A female judge whacked his knuckles, that really must bruise his ego!!
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