“The constitutional right to bear arms in public for self-defense is not a second-class right, subject to an entirely different body of rules than the other Bill of Rights guarantees.”
No constitutional right requires a person to show special need before they receive its protections. A person does not need to show special need to practice their religion or exercise their free speech rights, no matter how unpopular their opinion. A person has the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, regardless of their background or history. The Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment is no different. “The exercise of other constitutional rights does not require individuals to demonstrate to government officials some special need. The Second Amendment right to carry arms in public for self-defense is no different.”
The gun debate in America is far from over, but the Supreme Court’s decision in this case is an absolute win for gun owners everywhere. While firearms are still heavily regulated, it is good to see that the highest court in the United States still respects the constitutional right to bear arms, and that they are willing to act when regulations become entirely unreasonable.