The wailing and gnashing of teeth from our nation’s gun lovers zealots fanatics enthusiasts will soon reach deafening levels as U.S. District Judge William Young dismisses a lawsuit seeking to overturn a 1998 Massachusetts law banning assault-style weapons and large capacity magazines.
U.S. District Judge William Young said in his ruling that the firearms and large magazines banned by the state in 1998 are “not within the scope of the personal right to ‘bear Arms’ under the Second Amendment.”
The features of a military style rifle are "designed and intended to by particularly suitable for combat rather than sporting applications," Young wrote.
Massachusetts was within its rights since the ban passed directly through elected representatives, Young decided.
As in other recent gun cases, Judge Young in his ruling cited the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia’s majority opinion in Heller:
More specifically, Justice Scalia explained that “weapons that are most useful in military service — M16 rifles and the like” are not protected under the Second Amendment and “may be banned.”
This news coupled with the recent news that a Chicago suburb enacted a ban on assault-style weapons and high capacity magazines is sending gun lovers zealots fanatics enthusiasts into a frenzy, even here at Daily Kos.
How, oh how, will Massachusetts gun lovers zealots fanatics enthusiasts protect home and hearth from the invading criminal hordes and/or a tyrannical government’s storm troopers? May as well put up a sign at the Massachusetts border stating, “Come and attack us!” Am I right?
Thoughts and prayers to those who lost their attempt to overturn this law...