The massacre of dozens of concert-goers in Las Vegas has reignited the uniquely American debate over what restrictions on firearms may be appropriate and warranted — or not — in considering the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right to bear arms and its practical effects on society.
As we’ve written here multiple times before, the 2nd Amendment guards a broad right to own guns. We put it this way in a 2014 editorial referencing a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling: “The high court acknowledged that, yes, the Second Amendment confers rights to citizens well beyond what’s necessary to raise an old-style armed militia. In its summary, though, the court also held that: ‘Like most rights, the Second Amendment right is not unlimited. It is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose … .’ “
The high court’s wisdom should leave ample room to civilly discuss issues of rights and public safety in days to come. That is the least we can do to honor the victims of the Las Vegas carnage. Toward that end, today we present viewpoints on gun violence.
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