The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Your View

January 30, 2013

Your View: Right to bear arms is not absolute

By Michael Wright, Mankato

— If Bob Jentges' take on District of Columbia v. Heller was correct, the opinion would not have required 157 pages. In addition to deciding that individuals had a right to bear arms, Justice Scalia made it quite clear that, like most constitutional rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited.

"Nothing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms." He continued in footnote n.26 to say that his list of proper regulation was by no means exhaustive.

Finally, the court approved the precedent set in the Miller case that the only protected firearms are those "in common use at the time" (presumably not assault weapons).

So it would seem that even some the most conservative Supreme Court Justices in history clearly confirm that your government may in fact place reasonable restrictions on a citizen's right to keep and bear arms.

 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Your View
  • Local water decisions were foolish

    May 24, 2013

  • mfp jentgesmug Many counter-argue global warming

    Like Leigh Pomeroy (Act now on Earth Day, April 27) I try to do what I can as an individual to protect the environment, and encourage others to do likewise.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • mfp maertens mug Republicans natter about 'I' word

    Mitt Romney first politicized the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, only hours after the event, by claiming the president sympathized with terrorists

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • mfp yezzimug ACA benefits ignored by writer

    Bob Jentges’ May 8 My View strikes me as being like a football coach trying to frighten players into quitting when the game has barely begun. His wholly negative piece reads like a catalog of scare tactics.

    May 21, 2013 1 Photo

  • Apology in abuse case was not accepted

    I am the mother of the victim in the Miguel Beltran child abuse case. I would like to clarify one thing in regards to the recent article that was printed.

    May 21, 2013

  • Highway cleanup crews priceless at 100 degrees As I was driving home from work in the late afternoon on the first 100 degree spring day, I saw, proudly wearing their bright, neon green safety vests and picking up garbage in the ditches, were the Adopt a Highway volunteer crews. When I honked my h

    May 19, 2013

  • mfp dekruifmug DFL budget leaves out reform The 2013 Minnesota Legislature started facing a projected budget shortfall of $635 million and by state mandate must balance the budget. The new DFL controlled government has a "fix" for this shortfall; raising taxes and fees for all Minnesotans by a

    May 18, 2013 1 Photo

  • Bell of Honor sign of respect for heroes Recently, I had the opportunity to go to the North Mankato Funeral Home for David Sandmeyer's military visitation. It was a very moving experience. Sandmeyer was the young man who was a 21-year-old Marine from Mankato. He was stationed in North Carol

    May 18, 2013

  • MSU falls while coach Hoffner will win again Attention MSU Alumni You and I have just learned of the decision that the Minnesota State University leadership, i.e. Dr. Davenport, Mr. Kevin Buisman (and probably others) have made concerning Todd Hoffner, the former MSU Football Coach. This firing

    May 17, 2013

  • Minnesota deserves lawmakers with a clue Our senators, Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken were part of a group to vote for and pass Obamacare. You know the overwhelming law that the Democratic leadership (Reid and Pelosi) said you'll have to pass it to find out what's in it. Exactly what they did

    May 17, 2013