The city council “has approved new regulations that make gun ownership as difficult and inconvenient as possible.  Residents aren’t even supposed to keep their guns loaded, as if a criminal breaking into their house would give them time to get ready to defend themselves,” says Barr.  Indeed, Mayor Adrian Fenty admitted that he wanted to err on the side of restricting firearm ownership.  “But the Constitution requires that public officials err on the side of protecting the people’s liberties,” insists Barr.  “That includes the right to own a gun.”

Now Dick Anthony Heller, after whom the original case was named, and his fellow plaintiffs have again filed suit against the District to vindicate their constitutional rights.  “Dick Anthony Heller and others like him deserve our gratitude, since they are fighting for all Americans.  The Supreme Court decision in Heller is a major step forward, but we must continue to be ever vigilant in the face of persistent attacks on our rights.  We must to continue to fight to ensure that governments at all levels respect our constitutional right to own firearms,” explains Barr, a strong gun advocate in Congress and member of the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association.

Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, where he served as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, as Vice-Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Financial Services. Prior to his congressional career, Barr was appointed by President Reagan to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and also served as an official with the CIA.
 
Since leaving Congress, Barr has been practicing law and has teamed up with groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the American Conservative Union to actively advocate every American citizen’s right to privacy and other civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Along with this, Bob is committed to helping elect leaders who will strive for smaller government, lower taxes and abundant individual freedom.

June 26, 2008 10:16 am EST

Washington, DC - Today the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the individual right of Americans to own guns in District of Columbia v. Heller.  The ruling “will go down as one of the Supreme Court’s most important rulings on behalf of liberty,” says Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr.
 
Until today, the Court had never held that the Second Amendment directly applied to individuals. “Today’s decision marks a new era for gun rights in America,” explains Barr, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association.  Barr also drafted the Libertarian Party’s amicus curiae brief in Heller.  “By protecting an individual’s right to keep and bear arms, the Second Amendment ensures that all Americans are able to participate in sporting activities, hunt, and protect themselves and their families,” he explains.

The right to self-defense is particularly important for women and minorities in a city like Washington, D.C.  “Where crime rates are high, a gun may be the only means for law-abiding citizens to safeguard themselves and their families,” Barr notes.  “Lawful gun ownership deters an untold number of crimes every year.”
But the Court’s ruling, though welcome, is not enough.  “It is important to have a president who also supports the right of Americans to own firearms,” says Barr.  “Sen. Barack Obama says that he believes in such a constitutional right, but he supports the District of Columbia’s ban, which gives criminals an advantage over law-abiding citizens,” notes Barr.

Sen. McCain has not advocated an absolute prohibition, “but he cosponsored legislation which could require registration of attendees at gun shows and even ban such shows,” Barr warns.  And Sen. McCain’s campaign legislation “curtailed the First Amendment right of gun owners to protect their rights by participating in election campaigns.”

As part of the Bill of Rights, the Second Amendment undergirds American liberty.  “The individual’s right to keep and bear arms helps ensure all of our freedoms,” says Barr.  “The Supreme Court’s recognition of the constitutional right to gun ownership is a recognition of the right to life, liberty, and property for all Americans.”

Barr represented the 7th District of Georgia in the U. S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, where he served as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, as Vice-Chairman of the Government Reform Committee, and as a member of the Committee on Financial Services. Prior to his congressional career, Barr was appointed by President Reagan to serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia, and also served as an official with the CIA.

Since leaving Congress, Barr has been practicing law and has teamed up with groups ranging from the American Civil Liberties Union to the American Conservative Union to actively advocate every American citizens’ right to privacy and other civil liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Along with this, Bob is committed to helping elect leaders who will strive for smaller government, lower taxes and abundant individual freedom.