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| | :Whether the following provisions—D.C. Code §§ 7-2502.02(a)(4), 22-4504(a), and 7-2507.02—violate the Second Amendment rights of individuals who are not affiliated with any state-regulated militia, but who wish to keep handguns and other firearms for private use in their homes. | | :Whether the following provisions—D.C. Code §§ 7-2502.02(a)(4), 22-4504(a), and 7-2507.02—violate the Second Amendment rights of individuals who are not affiliated with any state-regulated militia, but who wish to keep handguns and other firearms for private use in their homes. |
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| − | The following groups, none of which are known to be [[conservative]], have filed [[amicus curiae]] briefs in favor of [[gun control]] in this case:<ref>http://dcguncase.com/blog/case-filings/</ref> | + | == Arguments == |
| | + | |
| | + | Two [[liberal]] medical/health organizations filed [[amicus brief|amici briefs]] arguing that medicine or health supports [[gun control]]. The American Public Health Association led one such brief, in which it argued that:<ref>http://www.gurapossessky.com/news/parker/documents/07-290acAmericanPublicHealthAssociation.pdf</ref> |
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| | + | :Firearms have a profound effect on the public's health in the United States. In 2004 (the latest year for which complete data are available), there were 29,569 firearm-related deaths in the United States, including homicides, suicides, and accidental deaths. Ctrs. for Disease Control & Prevention, Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) Injury Mortality Reports, 1999-2004 (July 2007), http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_sy.html. In addition, there were more than 70,000 non-fatal shootings serious enough to require a hospital visit in the U.S. in 2006. There were also an estimated 477,040 victims of non-fatal violent crimes committed with a firearm in 2005. Ctrs. for Disease Control & Prevention, Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) Nonfatal Injury Reports (Sept. 2007), http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/nfirates2001.html; Bureau of Justice Statistics, Firearms and Crime Statistics (Mar. 2007), http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/guns.htm. The total societal cost of this firearm related violence has been estimated at $100 billion per year. Philip J. Cook & Jens Ludwig, Gun Violence: The Real Costs 117 (Oxford Univ. Press 2000). |
| | + | |
| | + | :Scientific evidence is the starting point for the public health approach to problems like gun violence. “The scientific core of public health is epidemiology, which identifies the risk factors, trends, and causes of health problems.” David Hemenway, Private Guns, Public Health 9 (2004). Because gun violence is a major public health problem that needs to be addressed through a variety of actions, including legislation and regulation, amici respectfully submit the following information to aid the Court’s analysis of this controversial issue. ... |
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| | + | :The studies detailed below show that the risk of suicide, homicide, and accidental gun death is greater in homes with guns, and in communities with a higher prevalence of guns. Numerous studies indicate that people who have guns in their homes are at a substantially increased risk of suicide. Similarly, the presence of a gun at home increases the risk of homicide for the occupants of that home. And handguns, in particular, are responsible for the majority of all firearm homicides and suicides. Ultimately, the evidence below shows that a substantial number of murders, suicides, and unintentional firearm deaths may be prevented by the statutes challenged in this case. |
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| | + | The brief by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is more strident: "Consistent with the responsibilities of municipal government confronted with a public health crisis among its most vulnerable, the District of Columbia enacted narrow legislation to staunch the contagion."<ref>http://www.gurapossessky.com/news/parker/documents/07-290tsaAmerican%20Academy.pdf</ref> The AAP devotes one of its argument headings to its claim that "children cannot be taught gun safety."<ref>http://www.gurapossessky.com/news/parker/documents/07-290tsaAmerican%20Academy.pdf</ref> |
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| | + | == [[Amicus Curiae]] Briefs == |
| | + | |
| | + | Far more [[conservative]] than [[liberal]] [[amicus curiae]] briefs have been filed in this action. |
| | + | |
| | + | The following groups, none of which are known to be [[conservative]], did file [[amicus curiae]] briefs in favor of [[gun control]] in this case:<ref>http://dcguncase.com/blog/case-filings/</ref> |
| | | | |
| | * Brief amicus curiae of Members of [[Congress]] filed.<ref>The members of [[Congress]] who joined this brief include some of its most [[liberal]] Representatives. The entire list of those who joined this brief is as follows: Representative Robert A. Brady (PA-01), Representative John Conyers, Jr. (MI-14), Representative Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Representative Keith Ellison (MN-05), Representative Sam Farr (CA-17), Representative Chaka Fattah (PA-02), Representative Al Green (TX-09), Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Representative Michael Honda (CA-15), Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), Representative Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Representative Gwen Moore (WI-04), Representative James P. Moran (VA-08), Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Representative Bobby L. Rush (IL-01), Representative Maxine Waters (CA-35), Representative Lynn C. Woolsey (CA-06) and Representative Albert R. Wynn (MD-04). [http://www.gurapossessky.com/news/parker/documents/07-0290acMembersofCongress.pdf]</ref> | | * Brief amicus curiae of Members of [[Congress]] filed.<ref>The members of [[Congress]] who joined this brief include some of its most [[liberal]] Representatives. The entire list of those who joined this brief is as follows: Representative Robert A. Brady (PA-01), Representative John Conyers, Jr. (MI-14), Representative Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Representative Keith Ellison (MN-05), Representative Sam Farr (CA-17), Representative Chaka Fattah (PA-02), Representative Al Green (TX-09), Representative Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-07), Representative Michael Honda (CA-15), Representative Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), Representative Carolyn McCarthy (NY-04), Representative Gwen Moore (WI-04), Representative James P. Moran (VA-08), Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Representative Bobby L. Rush (IL-01), Representative Maxine Waters (CA-35), Representative Lynn C. Woolsey (CA-06) and Representative Albert R. Wynn (MD-04). [http://www.gurapossessky.com/news/parker/documents/07-0290acMembersofCongress.pdf]</ref> |
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| | * Brief amici curiae of Jack N. Rakove, et al. filed. | | * Brief amici curiae of Jack N. Rakove, et al. filed. |
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| − | == Arguments ==
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Two [[liberal]] medical/health organizations filed [[amicus brief|amici briefs]] arguing that medicine or health supports [[gun control]]. The American Public Health Association led one such brief, in which it argued that:<ref>http://www.gurapossessky.com/news/parker/documents/07-290acAmericanPublicHealthAssociation.pdf</ref>
| |
| − |
| |
| − | :Firearms have a profound effect on the public's health in the United States. In 2004 (the latest year for which complete data are available), there were 29,569 firearm-related deaths in the United States, including homicides, suicides, and accidental deaths. Ctrs. for Disease Control & Prevention, Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) Injury Mortality Reports, 1999-2004 (July 2007), http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_sy.html. In addition, there were more than 70,000 non-fatal shootings serious enough to require a hospital visit in the U.S. in 2006. There were also an estimated 477,040 victims of non-fatal violent crimes committed with a firearm in 2005. Ctrs. for Disease Control & Prevention, Web-Based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) Nonfatal Injury Reports (Sept. 2007), http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/nfirates2001.html; Bureau of Justice Statistics, Firearms and Crime Statistics (Mar. 2007), http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/guns.htm. The total societal cost of this firearm related violence has been estimated at $100 billion per year. Philip J. Cook & Jens Ludwig, Gun Violence: The Real Costs 117 (Oxford Univ. Press 2000).
| |
| − |
| |
| − | :Scientific evidence is the starting point for the public health approach to problems like gun violence. “The scientific core of public health is epidemiology, which identifies the risk factors, trends, and causes of health problems.” David Hemenway, Private Guns, Public Health 9 (2004). Because gun violence is a major public health problem that needs to be addressed through a variety of actions, including legislation and regulation, amici respectfully submit the following information to aid the Court’s analysis of this controversial issue. ...
| |
| − |
| |
| − | :The studies detailed below show that the risk of suicide, homicide, and accidental gun death is greater in homes with guns, and in communities with a higher prevalence of guns. Numerous studies indicate that people who have guns in their homes are at a substantially increased risk of suicide. Similarly, the presence of a gun at home increases the risk of homicide for the occupants of that home. And handguns, in particular, are responsible for the majority of all firearm homicides and suicides. Ultimately, the evidence below shows that a substantial number of murders, suicides, and unintentional firearm deaths may be prevented by the statutes challenged in this case.
| |
| − |
| |
| − | The brief by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is more strident: "Consistent with the responsibilities of municipal government confronted with a public health crisis among its most vulnerable, the District of Columbia enacted narrow legislation to staunch the contagion."<ref>http://www.gurapossessky.com/news/parker/documents/07-290tsaAmerican%20Academy.pdf</ref> The AAP devotes one of its argument headings to its claim that "children cannot be taught gun safety."<ref>http://www.gurapossessky.com/news/parker/documents/07-290tsaAmerican%20Academy.pdf</ref>
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| | == References == | | == References == |
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| | [[category:United States Supreme Court Cases]] | | [[category:United States Supreme Court Cases]] |
| | [[category:Second Amendment]] | | [[category:Second Amendment]] |
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| | + | == Sources == |
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| | + | *[http://www.heritage.org/Research/LegalIssues/wm1775.cfm The Federal Government’s Brief in the D.C. Gun Ban Case: A Glass That Is More Than Half Full], [[Todd Gaziano|Todd F. Gaziano]] and [[Andrew Grossman]], ''[[Heritage Foundation]]'', January 18, 2008 |