News

Log Cabin Applauds U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Second Amendment Rights

Court Rules 5-4 that Americans Have a Right to Own Guns for Self-Defense

June 26, 2008

(Washington, DC) – Log Cabin Republicans applaud the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling striking down Washington, DC's 32-year-old ban on hand guns.

"This is an excellent decision for all Americans-gay and straight," said Log Cabin Republicans President Patrick Sammon. "We're grateful the U.S. Supreme Court re-affirmed the constitutional right for all Americans to own a gun.

"Unfortunately, too many gay Americans still face the threat of anti-gay violence," said Sammon. "We're happy the Supreme Court has affirmed the right for us to protect ourselves and our families from harm. Self defense is not a privilege, it's a right.

"Gun ownership is a cherished and historic American right enshrined in our Constitution. Today, the right to bear arms lives on for all qualified, law-abiding citizens," said Sammon.

This ruling overturns the District of Columbia's ban on handguns as unconstitutional under the Second Amendment right to bear arms. DC's gun ban is one of the strictest in the nation. The ruling from the Supreme Court is likely to impact similar bans elsewhere, but is expected to leave most gun control laws intact.