Mass Shootings and Gun Laws
Constitution
Second Amendment - “[a] well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”
Relevant Cases
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District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) - Established the Second Amendment as a personal right rather than a right of a militia.
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McDonald v. Chicago (2010) - The constitutional “right of the people to keep and bear Arms” applies to state and local governments as well as to the federal government.
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Sandy Hook - Soto v. Bushmaster Firearms (settled 2022) - certain Sandy Hook victims families filed lawsuits against the firearm manufacturer that produced the gun used in the school shooting.
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New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. City of New York (pending) - decision that could further limit state and local firearms regulations.
Relevant Laws
Federal Assault Weapons Ban (lapsed) - Prohibited the manufacture, sale, and possession of semi-automatic assault weapons and high capacity magazines.
Brady Law - Established a background check system for gun ownership and prohibits certain individuals — such as convicted felons, those with certain mental illnesses, those who unlawfully used a controlled substance, or those convicted of domestic violence — from buying guns.
