[Moose4]

2. Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose: For example, concealed weapons prohibitions have been upheld under the Amendment or state analogues. The Court’s opinion should not be taken to cast doubt on longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ill, or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, or laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms. Miller’s holding that the sorts of weapons protected are those “in common use at the time” finds support in the historical tradition of prohibiting the carrying of dangerous and unusual weapons. Pp. 54–56.

So basically, except for the most egregious total gun bans, it's the status quo. They can still restrict the hell out of your ownership rights as long as they don't ban them completely, and still require licensing. But, check this out...

Because Heller conceded at oral argument that the D. C. licensing law is permissible if it is not enforced arbitrarily and capriciously, the Court assumes that a license will satisfy his prayer for relief and does not address the licensing requirement. Assuming he is not disqualified from exercising Second Amendment rights, the District must permit Heller to register his handgun and must issue him a license to carry it in the home. Pp. 56–64.

Does this mean that the Supreme Court just ruled "may-issue" handgun licensing, but NOT "may-issue" CCW licensing, unconstitutional?

}:-)4

[MediaMole]

This definitely reads as a status quo decision for most areas. It will likely have an impact in places like Chicago and the Chicago suburbs, where bans like DC are common.

It could have an impact in New York City, where it is technically legal to purchase a handgun, but is enforced capriciously, allowing only the well connected and famous to have weapons.

OTOH, governments have a long history of ignoring rulings like this. The Wisconsin supreme court struck down parts of the state CCW ban, charging the legislature with rewriting the law. The legislature has twice passed CCW laws only to have the vetoed by Jim Doyle.