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===Political stance and notable opinions===
===Political stance and notable opinions===
Though he was appointed by a Republican President and he did hold a somewhat [[conservative]] voting record as an appellate [[judge]], Stevens consistently voted with the [[liberal]] wing of the Court, particularly on [[abortion]], the [[Establishment Clause]], the [[Second Amendment]], and other social issues. A rare exception to his voting with the [[liberal]] bloc was on issues endangering patriotism, such as his vote to uphold laws against flag-burning. (Stevens won a Bronze Star for his service in the [[Navy]] during [[World War II]], as described below.)
Though he was appointed by a Republican President, was a registered [[Republican]] himself, and held a somewhat [[conservative]] voting record as an appellate [[judge]], Stevens consistently voted with the [[liberal]] wing of the Court, particularly on [[abortion]], the [[Establishment Clause]], the [[Second Amendment]], and other social issues. A rare exception to his voting with the [[liberal]] bloc was on issues endangering patriotism, such as his vote to uphold laws against flag-burning. (Stevens won a Bronze Star for his service in the [[Navy]] during [[World War II]], as described below.)
He was often unpredictable and could express unusual views. For example, only Justice Stevens declared that it violated the [[Establishment Clause]] for a state to recognize that life begins at conception:<ref>''Webster v. Reprod. Health Servs''., 492 U.S. 490, 566-67 (1989) (Stevens, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)</ref>
He was often unpredictable and could express unusual views. For example, only Justice Stevens declared that it violated the [[Establishment Clause]] for a state to recognize that life begins at conception:<ref>''Webster v. Reprod. Health Servs''., 492 U.S. 490, 566-67 (1989) (Stevens, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)</ref>
He also dissented alone from a decision upholding a blanket exclusion of defendant's polygraph evidence in military trials.<ref>''[[United States v. Scheffer]]'', 523 U.S. 303 (1998).</ref>
He also dissented alone from a decision upholding a blanket exclusion of defendant's polygraph evidence in military trials.<ref>''[[United States v. Scheffer]]'', 523 U.S. 303 (1998).</ref>
After retiring, Stevens stated that, in his view, the three worst Supreme Court decisions during his service were ''[[Bush v. Gore]]'', ''[[District of Columbia v. Heller]]'', and ''[[Citizens United v. FEC]]'', all decisions hated by the Left.<ref>Birnbaum, Emily (November 26, 2018). [https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/418203-john-paul-stevens-names-three-biggest-errors-supreme-court-made Retired Justice Stevens: Gun control case, Gore v. Bush among three biggest ‘errors’ Supreme Court made during his tenure]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved November 26, 2018.</ref>
After retiring, Stevens stated that, in his view, the three worst Supreme Court decisions during his service were ''[[Bush v. Gore]]'', ''[[District of Columbia v. Heller]]'', and ''[[Citizens United v. FEC]]'', all decisions hated by the Left.<ref>Birnbaum, Emily (November 26, 2018). [https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/418203-john-paul-stevens-names-three-biggest-errors-supreme-court-made Retired Justice Stevens: Gun control case, Gore v. Bush among three biggest ‘errors’ Supreme Court made during his tenure]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved November 26, 2018.</ref>
However, he strangely wrote in his memoirs that he was deeply dissatisfied with the treatment of [[Robert Bork]], and even condemned the Democrat-led [[Senate]] for blocking him, calling Bork "eminently qualified". He even went as far to imply that it even weakened the legitimacy of the [[Supreme Court]], surprisingly.<ref>https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/courts/robert-bork-nomination-which-died-on-joe-bidens-watch-draws-praise-from-ex-justice-john-paul-stevens</ref> ''The Washington Examiner''. Retrieved July 3rd, 2020.
==Anti-Second Amendment advocacy==
==Anti-Second Amendment advocacy==
In 2014, Stevens campaigned for changing the [[Second Amendment]] to eliminate any protections of the individual right to own firearms.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (March 27, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/03/27/flashback-2014-justice-stevens-wanted-change-2nd-amendment-eliminate-individual-right/ Flashback 2014: Justice Stevens Wanted to Change 2nd Amendment to Eliminate Individual Right]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 27, 2018.</ref> In March 2018, he wrote an op-ed in ''[[The New York Times]]'' calling outright for repealing the Second Amendment.<ref>Multiple references:
In 2014, Stevens campaigned for changing the [[Second Amendment]] to eliminate any protections of the individual right to own firearms.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (March 27, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/03/27/flashback-2014-justice-stevens-wanted-change-2nd-amendment-eliminate-individual-right/ Flashback 2014: Justice Stevens Wanted to Change 2nd Amendment to Eliminate Individual Right]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved March 27, 2018.</ref> In March 2018, he wrote an op-ed in ''[[The New York Times]]'' calling outright for repealing the Second Amendment.<ref>Multiple references: