Posted on 08/08/2003 8:27:44 PM PDT by pro2A Mom
Friend of the Court Brief filed in United States Supreme Court
Contact: Maria Heil of Second Amendment Sisters, 877-797-4857 (press only) or email: press@2asisters.org
AUSTIN, TX-August 8, 2003-A friend of the Court brief has been filed by the nation’s leading pro-self-defense women’s organization, Second Amendment Sisters, Inc.(SAS)
In July, a Petition for Writ of Certiorari was filed in the United States Supreme Court in the case of Silveira, et al. vs. Lockyer, et al. This week, Second Amendment Sisters filed an Amicus Curiae (or Friend of the Court) brief supporting the Petitioners and citing reasons for the Supreme Court to grant a review of the case to Petitioners. The brief supports reversing the ruling of the Ninth Circuit, which found that the right to keep and bear arms is a collective right, reserved only for police and state militias.
Second Amendment Sisters embraces the concept that the right to keep and bear arms, as recognized by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, is an individual, and not a collective right.
SAS, whose motto is “Self Defense is a Basic Human Right”™, decries the proposition that women should be victims as a result of biology. Armed women have defended themselves and their families for over 200 years in the history of this country. That right did not simply vanish with the American frontier.
Laws that restrict access to defensive weapons are elitist in nature, inasmuch as the wealthy have the means to provide security measures for themselves and their families that middle class and poor women do not. “The people” in the Second Amendment does not refer only to a privileged class, but to all Americans.
The Supreme Court should rule that the right to own and carry arms for self-defense is an individual right, even predating the Constitution, and recognized as an inalienable right by the Second Amendment. That interpretation provides women with the ability and power to defend themselves and their loved ones against rape, assault, and other violent crimes by the physically stronger sex. Any decision that rejects the individual rights interpretation of the Second Amendment is a decision that discriminates against women, and in many jurisdictions effectively relegates them to the status of home detention prisoners or chattel under the protectorate of men.
FAST FACT-(Source-“Gun Facts” version 3.1 by Guy Smith)
-The Second Amendment was listed in a Supreme Court ruling as an individual right. (Dred Scott, Casey v. Planned Parenthood, U.S. V. Cruikshank and others)
And yes, Pro2A Mom, we HAVE come a long way!
Without FreeRepublic and Mr. Robinson's blessing, this could never have happened, because Second Amendment Sisters was born on this web site.
And that is the truth! Thank you JimRob!
A ruling that nixes individual rights would kill us. Right now, we are in limbo and the gun lobby and the gun owners (voters) are strong enough to keep politicians in check. It scares the hell out of me to try to view life with a SCOTUS opinion against individual rights. On the bright side, I do believe that Bush will probably be reelected and will also be able to make at least a few new appointments in our favor. I want this issue decided, but I want it decided by a reasonable court.
SAS, along with a few other organizations, are doing this nation a great service.
That's why the Judicial nominations are also a crucial element for any future battles.
bunp
P.S. Will I be seeing you at GRPC this year?
Thanks, Ray! We could do it without loayal supporters and contributors.
I guess I shouldn't post until my eyes are fully open!:-)
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