Written By: Reed Peyton
2018 has undoubtedly been a rough and stressful year for gun rights advocates. Months of large-scale protests and attacks on the Second Amendment have led to numerous restrictive bills to be passed across the country and the Left has promised even more. However, after ages of playing defense, gun owners were granted a huge victory by arguably one of the most liberal court system in the country.
The California-based 9th Circuit Court ruled in favor of George Young Jr., a Hawaii resident who had sued the state for denying him a permit to openly carry a firearm for self-defense. Hawaii, a state with some of the strictest gun laws, essentially requires you to be in a profession that requires you to open carry, thus only handing out permits to security guards and law enforcement while leaving most of the population defenseless against criminals. You must show an “extraordinary need” as if protecting the life of yourself and family isn’t a need enough. Therefore, concerned Hawaii residents are forced to resort to hiring bodyguards to follow them around as a means of personal protection. It seems as if the judges in San Francisco also recognized the absurdity and acted on it.
After deliberation and reviewing the history of the 2nd amendment, the court came to the conclusion that it was unconstitutional to deny individuals of their right to bear arms outside of their home, and that the law should include the right to openly carry a loaded firearm at the very least. Not only is this a tremendous victory for the citizens of Hawaii, but for all law-abiding gun owners in the United States. Other states such as California and New Jersey, have a history of denying their citizens rights to carry firearms outside of their homes by making carry permits nearly impossible to obtain and requiring firearms being transported in vehicles to be unloaded, locked, and out of reach. Hopefully, these rulings will pave the way for states like these to fulfill their obligation to obey the Constitution.
This ruling comes just a week after the 9th Circuit ruled that California’s ban on magazines that hold more than 10 rounds was also unconstitutional. Both states are expected to appeal to the rulings and will most likely reach the Supreme Court. And with the new appointees, the odds of them standing is higher than ever. After fighting off anti-gun bills for years, advocates need to capitalize on the momentum and create an offensive for other pro-gun laws such as national concealed carry reciprocity, the NFA, and other unjust gun laws. Most importantly, get out and vote. These victories are only temporary if more gun-grabbing politicians are elected in November. But for now, citizens in restrictive states can hold out hope that their right to keep and bear arms will soon be fully recognized.
Comments