A federal appeals court ruled that the 2nd Amendment does not give people the right to carry concealed firearms.
The Constitution clearly affirms the right to “keep” (possess) and “bear” (carry) arms. Does the court think it’s only constitutional to carry weapons openly, on gun belts? Or would it allow that to be restricted also? How does it expect people to bear the arms the constitution entitles them to?
At any rate, look for many states, cities, and the federal government to rescind concealed carry laws and to put further restrictions on the 2nd Amendment.
Dealing a blow to gun supporters, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday that Americans do not have a constitutional right to carry concealed weapons in public.
In a dispute that could ultimately wind up before the Supreme Court, a divided 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said local law enforcement officials can place significant restrictions on who is allowed to carry concealed guns.
By a vote of 7-4, the court upheld a California law that says applicants must supply a “good cause” to obtain a concealed-carry permit. People who are being stalked or threatened, celebrities who fear for their safety, and those who routinely carry large amounts of cash or other valuables are often given permits.
The ruling overturned a decision by a three-judge panel of the same court that said applicants need only express a desire for personal safety.
The 9th Circuit’s rulings are binding in nine Western states. Only two other federal appeals courts have taken up the issue — in cases out of New York and Maryland — and both ruled the way the 9th Circuit did.
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