Baxter
2018-03-27 15:01:19 UTC
Retired Justice Stevens argues for repeal of Second Amendment
Washington (CNN)Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens believes
the students and demonstrators who protested this past weekend for gun
control should seek a repeal of the Second Amendment.
"A concern that a national standing army might pose a threat to the
security of the separate states led to the adoption of that amendment,"
Stevens wrote an op-ed published in The New York Times Tuesday, adding,
"today that concern is a relic of the 18th century."
A lifelong Republican but considered liberal in his judicial rulings,
Stevens pointed to his dissent in the 2008 landmark District of Columbia v.
Heller case that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to
possess a firearm for self-defense within his home.
"That decision which I remain convinced was wrong and certainly was
debatable has provided the (National Rifle Association) with a propaganda
weapon of immense power," wrote Stevens, who served from 1975 until he
retired in 2010.
He added, "Overturning that decision via a constitutional amendment to get
rid of the Second Amendment would be simple and would do more to weaken the
NRA's ability to stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun
control legislation than any other available option."
https://is.gd/Ca9LJx
Washington (CNN)Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens believes
the students and demonstrators who protested this past weekend for gun
control should seek a repeal of the Second Amendment.
"A concern that a national standing army might pose a threat to the
security of the separate states led to the adoption of that amendment,"
Stevens wrote an op-ed published in The New York Times Tuesday, adding,
"today that concern is a relic of the 18th century."
A lifelong Republican but considered liberal in his judicial rulings,
Stevens pointed to his dissent in the 2008 landmark District of Columbia v.
Heller case that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to
possess a firearm for self-defense within his home.
"That decision which I remain convinced was wrong and certainly was
debatable has provided the (National Rifle Association) with a propaganda
weapon of immense power," wrote Stevens, who served from 1975 until he
retired in 2010.
He added, "Overturning that decision via a constitutional amendment to get
rid of the Second Amendment would be simple and would do more to weaken the
NRA's ability to stymie legislative debate and block constructive gun
control legislation than any other available option."
https://is.gd/Ca9LJx