Video Highlights
- The Biden Administration has urged the Supreme Court to take up a gun control case.
- They are seeking to uphold restrictions on individuals with domestic violence restraining orders.
- Recent lower court rulings have struck down long-standing federal gun restrictions.
- The administration's move is seen as a response to those rulings and an attempt to regain control over gun control measures.
- The outcome of the Supreme Court's decision could have significant implications for Second Amendment rights.
Video Summary
In a bold move, the Biden Administration has beseeched the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to intervene in a crucial gun control case. With recent lower court rulings striking down federal gun restrictions, the White House is seeking to uphold restrictions on individuals with domestic violence restraining orders. This request for SCOTUS review represents a high-stakes gamble that could potentially deal a blow to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The lower court decisions that have prompted this intervention are seen as significant blows to long-standing federal gun restrictions. One ruling held that federal law cannot prohibit individuals from owning guns merely due to being subject to domestic violence restraining orders. Another decision found that preventing individuals convicted of non-violent felonies from owning firearms is unconstitutional. Furthermore, a third ruling deemed the federal law prohibiting individuals under the age of 21 from owning firearms as unlawful.
However, the Biden Administration refuses to let these rulings stand and has turned to SCOTUS for resolution. They hope that the Court will reverse the lower court decisions and reinstate the federal gun restrictions invalidated by those rulings. The core issue at hand is the constitutionality of barring individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders from possessing firearms. It is important to note that this restriction is imposed without the individual being found guilty in a court of law, but rather based on a restraining order.
Thursday marks a crucial day as the justices are set to privately discuss whether to hear the case. This discussion will serve as the first true test of how broadly the Court's conservative majority interprets its landmark 2022 ruling, known as the Bruin decision. The Bruin decision expanded gun rights by recognizing that the Second Amendment's right to bear arms extends beyond the confines of one's home. However, the administration argues that the ruling did not expand gun rights but rather curtailed gun control measures.
If SCOTUS declines to hear the case, it would be a significant win for supporters of gun rights, dealing a powerful blow to the Biden Administration's efforts to reinstate the restrictions. This would parallel the Court's decision in the New York concealed carry case, where they allowed further litigation rather than intervening. On the other hand, if the Court agrees to hear the case and ultimately overturns the lower court rulings, it could reshape the landscape of gun control and create new legal precedents.
The outcome of this SCOTUS review has far-reaching implications for Second Amendment rights and the broader gun control debate. It remains to be seen how the conservative-leaning Court will rule on this particular case. The decision will be closely watched by both gun rights advocates and proponents of stricter gun control measures alike. As the nation awaits the Court's decision, the Biden Administration's gamble on SCOTUS intervention has intensified the ongoing battle over gun control in the United States.
