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For Immediate Release: Media Contact: Matt Mackowiak

February 7, 2008 (202) 224-9782

**Sen. Hutchison Defends 2^nd^ Amendment Rights in Heritage Foundation
Speech**

*Highlights Majority Opinion of Congress to Uphold "Fundamental
Individual Right"*

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**WASHINGTON --**U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas' senior
senator, today defended the right of all Americans to bear firearms and
protect themselves and their families in their homes. At a forum hosted
by the Heritage Foundation, Sen. Hutchison discussed the issue in light
of the upcoming Supreme Court ruling on the case, *District of Columbia
v. Heller*, which presents an important opportunity to affirm this
right.

            "Next month, for the first time since 1939, the U.S. Supreme
Court will rule on the issue of Second Amendment rights. Their decision
will have major implications for all Americans," said Sen. Hutchison.

            "Tomorrow I will file an *amicus* brief with the Supreme
Court with my colleague Sen. Jon Tester. We've gathered the greatest
number of signers on a brief to the Supreme Court in recent history. A
majority of both houses of Congress have signed our brief in support of
the respondent, who simply wishes to exercise his constitutional right
to protect himself. In a situation like this, we feel it is important
for members of the legislative branch to give our opinion on the
legislative history and its relevance," Sen. Hutchison said.

            Sen. Hutchison emphasized the need to restore this
constitutional right to residents of Washington D.C., who are currently
living under the most restrictive gun control laws in the nation, which
are prohibiting individuals from protecting themselves in their own
homes.

            In 1976, the D.C. City Council banned handguns and required
rifles and shotguns to be registered, stored unloaded, and either locked
or disassembled.  Six D.C. residents sued the city over its firearms
prohibition and the constitutional right to protect themselves.  The
U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled last March that the
city's gun control laws violate individuals' Second Amendment rights. 
The majority opinion wrote, \"Section 7-2507.02, like the bar on
carrying a pistol within the home, amounts to a complete prohibition on
the lawful use of handguns for self-defense. As such, we hold it
unconstitutional.\"

Next month, the Supreme Court of the United States will hear the
District of Columbia's appeal in the case *District of Columbia v.
Heller*.  The Supreme Court's consideration of the case this term marks
the first time since 1939 that the Court will rule on a Second Amendment
challenge to a firearm law.

 "The Supreme Court has the perfect case to affirm that the Second
Amendment protects an individual's right to self-defense," said Sen.
Hutchison.

Sen. Hutchison introduced the District of Columbia Personal Protection
Act of 2007, S.1001, a bill to restore Second Amendment Rights to the
residents of Washington, DC. She also authored an *amicus* curiae brief
to the Supreme Court in support of the Court affirming the decision and
upholding the Second Amendment as a fundamental individual right. The
amicus brief has been signed by 55 Senators, and 250 members of the
House.

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[REMARKS AS
DELIVERED](http://hutchison.senate.gov/HeritageTranscript.html)