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US handgun ban challenge spreads
BBC News ^ | June 28, 2008 | Staff

Posted on 06/27/2008 11:44:10 PM PDT by Schnucki

A powerful gun lobby group in the United States has filed legal challenges to handgun bans in San Francisco and Chicago.

The lawsuits come a day after the US Supreme Court ruled that a ban on the private possession of handguns in Washington DC was unconstitutional.

A National Rifle Association lawyer said the cases were necessary to expand the ruling to other states and cities.

San Francisco's mayor says he plans to fight the NRA challenge.

The San Francisco lawsuit challenges the city's handgun ban in public housing, while in Chicago it challenges a ruling that makes it illegal to possess or sell handguns in the city.

Self-defence

The NRA is joined in the San Francisco suit by a gay man living in a government-owned housing development who says he needs a gun to protect himself from potential hate crimes.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said the city will "vigorously fight the NRA" and said the ban was good for public safety.

"Is there anyone out there who really believes that we need more guns in public housing? I can't for the life of me sit back and roll over on this. We will absolutely defend the rights of the housing authority," Mr Newsom said.

The Supreme Court's ruling says that the constitution "protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defence within the home".

The ruling enshrines for the first time the individual right to own guns and limits efforts to reduce their role in American life.

"The Supreme Court's decision was very encouraging, but it is just a start," NRA lawyer C D Michel said.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: banglist; chicago; handgun; heller; lawsuit; nra; secondamendment; sf; shallnotbeinfringed

1 posted on 06/27/2008 11:44:10 PM PDT by Schnucki
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To: Schnucki

**”Is there anyone out there who really believes that we need more guns in public housing? I can’t for the life of me sit back and roll over on this. We will absolutely defend the rights of the housing authority,” Mr Newsom said.**

No you can’t. You liberals had your chance, now it’s time to reap the whirlwind.


2 posted on 06/27/2008 11:48:20 PM PDT by max americana
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To: Schnucki
"...We will absolutely defend the rights of the housing authority,"

The housing authority has rights that trump the rights of citizens?

3 posted on 06/27/2008 11:50:20 PM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: Schnucki
"We will absolutely defend the rights of the housing authority."

Yeah, the rights of a government agency always trump individual rights.

4 posted on 06/27/2008 11:55:59 PM PDT by MediaMole
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To: max americana
I can’t for the life of me sit back and roll over on this.

You will be rolling over soon Fido, the NRA is on the march and the likes of you will be trampled. And why should you care anyway, millions of unborn children are murdered every year and you are gleeful for this "choice"......deaths from guns pale in comparison.

5 posted on 06/27/2008 11:59:10 PM PDT by HerrBlucher (Drill drill drill for oil offshore and on land merrily merrily merrily merrily environuts be damned)
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To: Schnucki

perhaps you could challenge our handgun ban here in the UK...:D


6 posted on 06/27/2008 11:59:56 PM PDT by Mac1
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To: HerrBlucher

You got that right! Being a member has it;s privs...

Funny how 2 weeks ago the LA Times had a frontpage story that the NRA has lost it’s power. Being probably’ the lone rwcon in Hollywood 90028 area, I laughed so hard at the fluff piece the walls shook.


7 posted on 06/28/2008 12:02:59 AM PDT by max americana
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To: Schnucki
The NRA is joined in the San Francisco suit by a gay man living in a government-owned housing development who says he needs a gun to protect himself from potential hate crimes.

It shows that sometimes politics create a strange bed-fellow...

8 posted on 06/28/2008 12:08:03 AM PDT by paudio (Like it or not, 'conservatism' is a word with many meanings. Yours may be different from mine.)
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To: Schnucki

“San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said the city will “vigorously fight the NRA” and said the ban was good for public safety.”

Didn’t he even read Scalia’s opinion on this one? Public safety is not a reason to suppress a Constitutional right. Guess ole Newsom can’t read worth a dang.


9 posted on 06/28/2008 12:18:39 AM PDT by MissouriConservative (There is an island of opportunity in the middle of every difficulty. Miss that and you're doomed)
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To: MissouriConservative
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said the city will “vigorously fight the NRA” and said the ban was good for public safety.

The ban isn't good for public safety. It is good for criminal safety...

10 posted on 06/28/2008 12:21:40 AM PDT by CurlyDave
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To: Schnucki
The NRA is joined in the San Francisco suit by a gay man living in a government-owned housing development who says he needs a gun to protect himself from potential hate crimes.

Strange um...bedfellows. Gays need guns too though.

11 posted on 06/28/2008 1:00:50 AM PDT by beaversmom
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To: Schnucki
"Is there anyone out there who really believes that we need more guns in public housing? I can't for the life of me sit back and roll over on this. We will absolutely defend the rights of the housing authority,"

Allow me to translate. What Mayor Newsome is really saying is:

"Is there anyone out there who thinks black people should trusted to defend themselves with guns? We will vigorously defend the bureaucracy's right to enforce tyranny on the citizenry (especially the minority citizenry), and the constitution be damned!"

There... rational people should be able to make some sense of it now.

12 posted on 06/28/2008 1:29:19 AM PDT by tcostell (MOLON LABE - http://freenj.blogspot.com - RadioFree NJ)
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To: Schnucki
"...We will absolutely defend the rights of the housing authority..."

The housing authority has no rights.

13 posted on 06/28/2008 1:34:36 AM PDT by meyer (Government is the problem, not the solution.)
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To: MediaMole

Mr. Newsome does’nt think the honest citizens in those
housing projects should provide for their own protection.
Government has not given the people protection against
crime.

The liberal establishment in these cities are proven failures
and they want to keep their constituents
hostage to crime.


14 posted on 06/28/2008 1:45:13 AM PDT by ChiMark
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To: MediaMole

Mr. Newsome does’nt think the honest citizens in those
housing projects should provide for their own protection.
Government has not given the people protection against
crime.

The liberal establishment in these cities are proven failures
and they want to keep their constituents
hostage to crime.


15 posted on 06/28/2008 1:45:19 AM PDT by ChiMark
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To: tcostell

I’m sure not everyone in the projects is a murdering gangsta druggie.

Those people need to defend themselves too!

I saw Harris, Newsom & Fong all at once on the nooz. These are the people in charge of that city?

The best thing for SF would be to send those asshats packing!


16 posted on 06/28/2008 1:50:43 AM PDT by Califreak (What exactly is a "Do Wacka Do" anyway?)
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To: Schnucki

Note to liberal commie scum...we are just getting warmed up!


17 posted on 06/28/2008 1:53:07 AM PDT by rrrod
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To: ChiMark

This is how they use the gangs as shock troops.

I have often wondered if that isn’t why they continue to let them stream into our country and why they don’t seem to be too interested in eliminating these gangs no matter where they are from.

They can build a voting bloc and have an army when it hits the fan.


18 posted on 06/28/2008 1:55:25 AM PDT by Califreak (What exactly is a "Do Wacka Do" anyway?)
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To: Califreak

It’s a riff-raff mentality I believe.


19 posted on 06/28/2008 2:00:16 AM PDT by eyedigress
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To: eyedigress

They’re just gangsters in suits.


20 posted on 06/28/2008 2:03:35 AM PDT by Califreak (What exactly is a "Do Wacka Do" anyway?)
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To: Califreak

Yup. If the Dirty Harry movies didn’t show enough of the underworld then nothing can. It’s always been there and the police will arrest when given the green light.


21 posted on 06/28/2008 2:07:04 AM PDT by eyedigress
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To: max americana
It is time to sue these arrogant politicians and their cities into bankruptcy and oblivion.
22 posted on 06/28/2008 2:14:06 AM PDT by Lockbar (March toward the sound of the guns.)
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To: Schnucki
A powerful gun lobby group in the United States has filed legal challenges to handgun bans in San Francisco and Chicago.

That we might see this full court press by the NRA and the other pro-gun groups had not occurred to me prior to the ruling --- but I am certainly happy to see it!

23 posted on 06/28/2008 2:48:40 AM PDT by snowsislander (NRA)
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To: MediaMole

Governments and government agencies have no “rights” and I don’t know where the idea that they did even came from.


24 posted on 06/28/2008 2:59:12 AM PDT by metesky ("Brethren, leave us go amongst them." Rev. Capt. Samuel Johnston Clayton - Ward Bond- The Searchers)
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To: MissouriConservative

Michael Savage played an audio clip of Gavin Newsom blaming the NRA for a bay area triple homicide by an illegal alien. Newsom’s ignorance is breathtaking.


25 posted on 06/28/2008 3:03:42 AM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: Schnucki
"...........I can't for the life of me sit back and roll over on this. We will absolutely defend the rights of the housing authority," Mr Newsom said.

Now this is rich, Newsom has found something he won't roll over for, while the NRA is defending the rights of an individual that Newsom would undoubtedly roll over for under different circumstances. Arrogant little punk...wonder if O'Reilly still thinks he's a "stand up guy"?

26 posted on 06/28/2008 3:17:29 AM PDT by RushLake (Typical, and proud, White person.)
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To: Schnucki
The government can't deprive you of your right of self-defense. Any government that takes away this right is illegitimate and no one has to obey its command to render one's home, family and person vulnerable to injury or death.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

27 posted on 06/28/2008 4:09:20 AM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
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To: paudio
> It shows that sometimes politics create a strange bed-fellow...

Did you really have to phrase it that way?
Blech.

28 posted on 06/28/2008 4:21:34 AM PDT by NewJerseyJoe (Rat mantra: "Facts are meaningless! You can use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!")
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To: snowsislander
That we might see this full court press by the NRA and the other pro-gun groups had not occurred to me prior to the ruling --- but I am certainly happy to see it!

Same here on both counts. :)

29 posted on 06/28/2008 4:59:46 AM PDT by Schnucki
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To: paudio
Since we're talking about a Constitutional Right, when can we expect the assistance of the ACLU?

Think Skokie!

30 posted on 06/28/2008 5:27:51 AM PDT by Roccus (The "P" in Democrat stands for Patriotism!)
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To: Schnucki; All
Newsom, a 1989 graduate of Santa Clara University with a B.A. in Political Science, is quoted:
"We will absolutely defend the rights of the housing authority [!] "

Well, like "Aux barricades!" to you too, baby.

Man, what are the Jesuits turning out these days? Mercy!

Trix are for kids, man. Rights are for Men, man. Government (and this includes any "housing authority") doesn't HAVE Rights. "To secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men..." Doesn't that like ring a bell man?

Damn, it's a good thing Newsom ain't building dams, he'd be puttin' concrete where the water oughta be.

Sad to say it's more likely that Newsom knows, but knows no one in 'Frisco will notice. (Yeah, I know that "'Frisco" thing bugs 'em. T.S.)

After the NRA litigiously tears the SF City Fathers a collective new one, and 'Fiscans all have a gun at home, let's declare a 3-day holiday, flood the place with Colts, Coca-Cola and Twinkies, quarantine for 72 hours, and welcome what's left back to the United States.

31 posted on 06/28/2008 5:55:41 AM PDT by Uncle Ralph (Liberty is from GOD)
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To: SpaceBar

Kamala Harris and Heather Fong are just as bad.

I pity the decent people of SF.


32 posted on 06/28/2008 9:17:44 AM PDT by Califreak (What exactly is a "Do Wacka Do" anyway?)
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To: Schnucki
The NRA was afraid of Heller. They didn't want the case to be heard. Perhaps they were afraid that if DC's ban was overturned, they'd become irrelevant. Or maybe they were afraid that if DC's ban was upheld, they'd never have the resources to fight the onslaught of new bans.

Now that Heller is the Law of the Land, the NRA is using this opportunity to challenge bans across the country. This is going to be expensive. They're going to need all the help they can get.

33 posted on 06/28/2008 9:27:41 AM PDT by Drew68
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To: All

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said the city will “vigorously fight the NRA” and said the ban was good for public safety.

Hey, Gavin, if you don’t like guns, don’t have any. Same for your bodyguards.


34 posted on 06/28/2008 10:00:34 AM PDT by DPMD (~)
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To: ChiMark

What you may not have heard is that San Francisco is losing much of its black population, which is moving out because of crime. The SF Board of Supervisors, which comprises all democrats, all beyond the pale radical liberals who think that even the Mayor is a right-wing fascist, is beside itself. They’re upset because of the image the exodus creates of a beloved liberal city whose favorite clients have seen the light.

Look for laws soon in San Francisco restricting travel out of the city.


35 posted on 06/28/2008 10:05:18 AM PDT by DPMD (~)
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To: SpaceBar

“Michael Savage played an audio clip of Gavin Newsom blaming the NRA for a bay area triple homicide by an illegal alien. Newsom’s ignorance is breathtaking.”

So in other words, it’s the NRA’s fault? Not the fault of someone who broke the law by being here therefore is a criminal to begin with? I’m guessing Newsom thinks that the NRA placed the gun in the illegal alien’s hand and forced him to pull the trigger three times? Liberals will say anything to further their cause, no matter how stupid it makes them look.


36 posted on 06/28/2008 11:35:26 AM PDT by MissouriConservative (There is an island of opportunity in the middle of every difficulty. Miss that and you're doomed)
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To: MissouriConservative

That’s precisely what Newsom was implying. Savage said it was one of the most disturbing displays of ignorance he’s ever heard from a politician’s lips, and I agree. A real jaw-dropper.


37 posted on 06/28/2008 11:42:48 AM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: paudio

So San Fran is anti-gay? That’s how the NRA should play it. Make Newsome drink from his own cup.


38 posted on 06/28/2008 11:48:52 AM PDT by ozzymandus
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To: NewJerseyJoe

That’s how the expression goes.


39 posted on 06/28/2008 12:26:42 PM PDT by wastedyears (Obama is a Texas Post Turtle.)
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To: SpaceBar

The more the left loses on this issues the more extreme they become. If it weren’t so serious, it would be amusing to watch them melt down like this.

They are grasping at straws, it’s the last gasp of the dying. Of course a dying animal is the most dangerous....so care needs to be taken as we watch their death throws.


40 posted on 06/28/2008 12:38:48 PM PDT by MissouriConservative (There is an island of opportunity in the middle of every difficulty. Miss that and you're doomed)
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To: tcostell

Does government have the right to say, you are living in public housing and therefore are not permitted any weapons? Don’t like the rules, move out and pay your own rent.


41 posted on 06/28/2008 6:10:17 PM PDT by B4Ranch (Having custody of a loaded weapon does not arm you. The skill to use the weapon is what arms a man.)
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To: B4Ranch

Personally I think that’s fair but I don’t think the law actually says that.


42 posted on 06/28/2008 6:14:15 PM PDT by tcostell (MOLON LABE - http://freenj.blogspot.com - RadioFree NJ)
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To: Drew68
The NRA was afraid of Heller. They didn't want the case to be heard....

Now that Heller is the Law of the Land, the NRA is using this opportunity to challenge bans across the country. This is going to be expensive. They're going to need all the help they can get.


As will the Second Amendment Foundation, which was not afraid to bring the Parker/Heller suit, and is now going after Chicago.

Chicago Gun Case
43 posted on 06/29/2008 6:10:10 AM PDT by publiusF27
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