Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/07pdf/07-290.pdf
Page Number: 49.0

46 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA v. HELLER 

Opinion of the Court 

tions of government, as well as against enemies from
without,  that  government  is  forbidden  by  any  law  or
proceeding to invade or destroy the right to keep and 
bear arms. . . .  The clause is analogous to the one se­
curing  the  freedom  of  speech  and  of  the  press.    Free­
dom, not license, is secured; the fair use, not the libel­
lous abuse, is protected.”  J. Pomeroy, An Introduction 
to  the  Constitutional  Law  of  the  United  States  152– 
153 (1868) (hereinafter Pomeroy). 

“As  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
constitutions of several of the states, in terms more or 
less comprehensive, declare the right of the people to
keep and bear arms, it has been a subject of grave dis­
cussion, in some of the state courts, whether a statute 
prohibiting  persons,  when  not  on  a  journey,  or  as 
travellers,  from  wearing  or  carrying  concealed  weap-
ons, be constitutional.  There has been a great differ­
ence of opinion on the question.”  2 J. Kent, Commen­
taries  on  American  Law  *340,  n. 2  (O.  Holmes  ed., 
12th ed. 1873) (hereinafter Kent). 

“Some  general  knowledge  of  firearms  is  important  to
the public welfare; because it would be impossible, in 
case of war, to organize promptly  an efficient force of
volunteers  unless  the  people  had  some  familiarity
with  weapons  of  war.    The  Constitution  secures  the 
right of the people to keep and bear arms.  No doubt, a 
citizen who keeps a gun or pistol under judicious pre­
cautions, practices in safe places the use of it, and in 
due time teaches his sons to do the same, exercises his 
individual right.  No doubt, a person whose residence
or  duties  involve  peculiar  peril  may  keep  a  pistol  for
prudent  self-defence.”  B.  Abbott,  Judge  and  Jury:  A
Popular Explanation of the Leading Topics in the Law 
of the Land 333 (1880) (hereinafter Abbott).