‘Printz’ Will Have Effect on U.S. Gun Legislation by Stephen P. Halbrook Published in National Law Journal, Aug. 18, 1997 As one of the counsel who argued Printz v. U.S., 65 U.S.L.W. 4731, in the Supreme Court, I take issue with Handgun Control Inc.’s Dennis Henigan’s claim that the ruling will not affect future gun legislation. [“Podium,” NLJ,…
Second Amendment: Post-Sniper Policy by Stephen P. Halbrook National Law Journal, Nov. 11, 2002 and New Jersey Law Journal, Nov. 18, 2002 The terror spread by the Washington, D.C-area snipers has prompted two reactions. One is to enact laws for ballistic “fingerprinting” of all firearms and to ban “sniper” rifles. The other is to focus on how…
The People Retain the Right To Arm Themselves by Stephen P. Halbrook National Law Journal, May 27, 1996 I agree with Morris Dees and David Williams that acts of violence should be prosecuted. “Militia Claims Baseless,” however, overlooks some important points concerning the Bill of Rights. [“Podium,” NLJ, May 13.] Messrs. Dees and Williams seem to…
Florida Court of Appeal Invalidates Trigger-Lock Ordinance March 2002 Read full opinion In a opinion handed down on March 20, 2002, the Florida Court of Appeal for the 3rd District held the trigger-lock ordinance of the City of South “null and void” under Florida’s preemption statute. The lawsuit against the ordinance was brought by the…
Guns and Prohibition, in Al Capone’s Day and Now by Stephen P. Halbrook Wall Street Journal, April 11, 1989 On his first day as drug czar, William Bennett decided to declare war on America’s 70 million gun owners. The war will not be one on “assault weapons,” however, but one on law-abiding citizens who, under…
The Framers Didn’t Want a National Police Force by Stephen P. Halbrook Published in National Law Journal, Jan. 17, 1994, p.14. Victor Williams’ “Founders Mandated Federal Role in Crime Control” (“Podium,” NLJ, 11-8-93) advocates a general federal criminal jurisdiction nowhere found enumerated in Congress’ powers in Art. I, Sec. 8, of the Constitution. His reliance on…
Emerson’s Second Amendment by Stephen P. Halbrook Originally published in 2001 at www.independent.org In “Guns and the Constitution” (Writ, Nov. 2), Akhil and Vikram Amar offer creative insights about the right to keep and bear arms that provoke us to reexamine our premises. Much of the thesis is valid. However, portions rely on a skewed analysis…
Another Look at the Brady Law by Stephen P. Halbrook Washington Post, Oct. 8, 1994 As counsel for four of the sheriffs who sued the federal government for trying to pull them off street patrol to conduct Brady Act record checks on predominantly law-abiding handgun purchasers, I wish to reply to Richard Aborn’s letter of…
The Right To Bear Arms Isn’t Just for Militias by Stephen P. Halbrook National Law Journal, October 9, 1995 “Bearing Arms” [NLJ, Sept. 25] endorses Garry Wills’ argument that “the right of the people to keep and bear arms” really means “the power of the states to maintain organized militias.” Yet to the framers, the…
