Today the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 that Second Amendment rights cannot be banned by state and local governments. In the case McDonald v. City of Chicago the Court found that the Second Amendment indeed protects most Americans’ right to own most types of firearms, and that states and local governments do not have the authority to deny that right.  

“Today is another great day for supporters of the Second Amendment,” Congressman Simpson said. “Just like 2008 when the Court ruled that Washington, D.C.’s gun ban was unconstitutional, they have knocked down Chicago’s similar law.” 

This ruling is different because the D.C v. Heller case found that the federal government cannot ban firearms because the Second Amendment is an individual right. The McDonald decision expands on that ruling to prohibit states and local governments from making similar restrictions.  While the decision itself only undoes a few specific city gun-ban laws in Illinois, it will likely provide the framework by which future unconstitutional gun bans can be overturned in court.

“I am encouraged by this decision, and hope to see it used to overturn restrictive and unfair gun bans in many cities across the country.”  Simpson added, “This finding will also confine the ability of activist judges to deny citizens rights to bear arms in the future.”

Congressman Simpson had signed an Amicus, or “Friend of the Court” Brief to the Supreme Court affirming that state and local governments should not have the right to circumvent the Second Amendment.