NPDF Succeeds before the Supreme Court
By PO Mike Barry
NPDF Secretary

    On June 26th, 2008 the United States Supreme Court handed down a landmark decision in the case of Washington DC, et al. vs. Heller.  The NPDF filed an Amicus or "Friend of the Court" brief in this case arguing that the right to own a handgun in one's own home was fundamental to American liberty and was clearly codified, unambiguously, in the Second Amendment. Washington, DC sought to disallow private possession of legal firearms in private homes and moved against Mr. Heller, a law biding Washington, DC resident who sought to keep his legally owned firearm in his home. The Washington, DC prohibition was struck down by the high court and the NPDF, and other signatories, were successful in our challenge against this unconstitutional law.

      Justice Scalia wrote for the majority, in a brilliant decision that included a dissertation on the history the Second Amendment and the intent of the Founders as to why the people should have a right to own firearms.  He explained that firearms ownership was fundamental to protect against the abuses of government and was so recognized and supported by the Founders.

        The decision, predictably, broke upon ideological lines with liberal Justices Stevens, Souter, Ginsburg and Breyer standing against the rights of the people to possess firearms in the home and conservation originalists Scalia, Thomas, Roberts and Alito siding with the Second Amendment with Justice Kennedy, once again the swing vote, siding with the majority.

        Scalia wrote," The Second Amendment protects the individual (italics added) right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes such as self defense within the home."

        The NPDF supports the Supreme Courts decision and celebrates the right of law biding citizen to own and lawfully use firearms.  This is a basic tenant of liberty that makes America different from all other nation. We trust the people to be self governed...and with this decision, liberty prevailed.