Thursday, March 28, 2024

Supreme Court Vacates Massachusetts Gun Control Law

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The Supreme Court has ordered a lower court ruling in a controversial Massachusetts gun control law be vacated and readdressed by a lower court.

The case, Morin v. Lyver, focuses on a state law that imposes rigid restrictions on the purchase and possession of handguns. The law currently requires Massachusetts residents to obtain a special license just to purchase or have a handgun in possession. The controversial law also goes a step further and includes a lifetime ban on purchasing handguns for anyone convicted of a nonviolent misdemeanor involving the possession or use of guns.

The U.S. District Court of Massachusetts initially ruled the legislation constitutional, however, the ordered that ruling vacated and the case “remanded to the USA Courtroom of Appeals for the First Circuit for additional consideration in light of State Rifle & Pistol Assn., Inc. v. Bruen.”

In June, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 striking down an unconstitutional New York law that required citizens to prove a “proper cause” to obtain a concealed carry permit. (RELATED: Supreme Court Reaffirms Second Amendment Rights In Latest Decision)

“The constitutional right to bear in public for self-defense is not ‘a second-class right, subject to an entirely different body of rules than the other Bill of Rights guarantees,'” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the majority at the time according to Fox News. “We know of no other constitutional right that an individual may exercise only after demonstrating to officers some special need.”

The order to vacate the lower court ruling and have the case reheard was unsigned by the justices, and there were no dissents. 

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Nancy Jackson
Nancy Jackson
Nancy grew up in the South where her passion for politics first began. After getting her BA in journalism from Ole Miss she became an arts and culture writer for Athens Magazine where she enjoyed reporting on the eclectic music and art scene in Athens, GA. However, her desire to report on issues and policies impacting everyday Americans won out and she packed her bags for Washington, DC. Now, she splits her time between the Nation’s Capital and Philadelphia where she covers the fast-paced environment of politics, business, and news. In her off time, you can find Nancy exploring museums or enjoying brunch with friends.

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