Krouse, William J. 2012 ‘Overview of Legislative Action in the 111th Congress.’ Gun Control Legislation, p. 37. Washington, DC: United States Congressional Research Service. 14 November

Relevant contents

Overview of Legislative Action in the 111th Congress

During the 111th Congress, the gun control debate was colored by two key Supreme Court decisions.(145)

In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Court found that the District of Columbia (DC) handgun ban, among other regulations, violated an individual's right under the Second Amendment to lawfully possess a firearm in his home for self-defense.

In McDonald v. City of Chicago, the Court found that an individual's right to lawfully possess a firearm for the purposes of self-defense under the Second Amendment applied to the states by way of the Fourteenth Amendment. Although the decision arguably limits a state's, city's, or local government's ability to prohibit handguns outright, it does not precisely delineate what would constitute permissible gun control laws under the Second Amendment. Consequently, these delineations will likely be developed in future cases…

Footnote:

145) For a legal analysis, see CRS Report R41750, The Second Amendment: An Overview of District of Columbia v. Heller and McDonald v. City of Chicago, by Vivian S. Chu.

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