NRA’s Argument in District of Columbia v. Heller

NRA’s Argument in District of Columbia v. Heller

Read the NRA’s amicus brief submitted in the District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008).

Write a one-page summation of the NRA’s argument.  Then, in a second page, answer the following questions:

  • What is the main argument presented by the NRA in its amicus curiae brief?,

  • Does the NRA support affirming or overruling the D.C. Circuit’s opinion?,

  • What are the NRA’s constitutional grounds for its position?,

  • How does the NRA interpret the Second Amendment in this case?,

  • What implications does the NRA suggest would result from affirming the D.C. Circuit’s ruling?

1.  Does the NRA want the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm or overrule the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s opinion?

2.  Why?

Your submission should adhere to the following guidelines:

·  The total length of your paper should be a minimum of 2 full pages in length.

·  Use APA style for general formatting, including margins, font type and font size, spacing, and cover page.

·  Include Bluebook formatted citations within the body of the paper and on the References page

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NRA’s Argument in District of Columbia v. Heller

NRA’s Argument in District of Columbia v. Heller

The National Rifle Association (NRA), in its amicus curiae brief for District of Columbia v. Heller, argues in strong support of individual gun ownership rights under the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The NRA contends that the D.C. handgun ban and the requirement that firearms be stored unloaded and disassembled (or bound by a trigger lock) violate the constitutional rights of citizens to keep and bear arms. They assert that these laws effectively nullify the right to use arms for self-defense, especially in the home, which is at the core of the Second Amendment’s protection.

The brief emphasizes historical precedent, citing the Founders’ original intent and early American legal traditions to argue that the right to keep and bear arms was always understood as an individual right, not one dependent on service in a militia. The NRA outlines how common law and early constitutional interpretations supported the right of law-abiding citizens to possess firearms for personal use.

Additionally, the brief challenges the claim that the Second Amendment is a collective right related only to organized militias. The NRA insists that the plain text, structure, and historical context of the Second Amendment strongly support an individual rights interpretation.

Question Responses

1. Does the NRA want the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm or overrule the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s opinion?
The NRA wants the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s decision.

2. Why?
The NRA supports affirming the decision because the Court of Appeals correctly interpreted the Second Amendment as protecting an individual right to own firearms. According to the NRA, the D.C. laws infringe on this right by essentially banning handgun possession and by making it nearly impossible for law-abiding

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