Case Summary
**Case Summary: Dick Heller v. District of Columbia**
**Docket Number:** 2650808
**Court:** United States Supreme Court
**Argued:** March 18, 2008
**Decided:** June 26, 2008
**Background:**
The case of Dick Heller v. District of Columbia emerged from a challenge to a Washington D.C. law that effectively prohibited the possession of handguns in the home, along with a requirement that firearms in the home be non-functional — either disassembled or bound by a trigger lock. Dick Heller, a special police officer authorized to carry a handgun while on duty, sought to possess a functional handgun at home for self-defense. He argued that the D.C. law violated his Second Amendment right to "keep and bear arms."
**Legal Issue:**
The central issue before the Supreme Court was whether the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution protects an individual's right to possess a firearm for personal use, particularly within the home, or if the right is limited to collective defense in the context of a militia.
**Supreme Court Decision:**
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court held in a 5-4 ruling that the Second Amendment indeed protects an individual’s 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 Court found that the D.C. law's comprehensive prohibition on handgun possession violated this individual right.
**Majority Opinion:**
Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the majority opinion, emphasizing the historical context of the Second Amendment and its protection of an individual's right to bear arms. The ruling clarified that the right to bear arms extends to personal self-defense and included the right to possess functional firearms in the home.
**Dissent:**
The dissenting opinion, authored by Justice John Paul Stevens, argued that the Second Amendment was intended to protect state militias and, thus, did not guarantee an individual right to possess firearms. The dissent expressed concern about the implications of the ruling for gun control and public safety.
**Impact:**
The decision in Heller v. District of Columbia had significant implications for gun rights and regulations across the United States. It was a pivotal moment in Second Amendment jurisprudence, leading to additional cases and continued debates over gun control and individual rights. The ruling affirmed individual ownership rights and set a precedent for future cases regarding firearms laws.
**Conclusion:**
Heller v. District of Columbia marked a turning point in the interpretation of the Second Amendment, establishing a constitutional right for individuals to own firearms for self-defense within their homes and challenging existing laws that regulate gun ownership.