Conservative Supreme Court takes on gun rights
On April 26, the Supreme Court of the United States agreed to hear a second amendment case — something they have not done in over a decade
Baylynne Brunetti / Asst. Opinion Editor / The USD Vista
The fear of an ideologically conservative Supreme Court has made its way to the forefront as the Court takes on a case backed by the NRA. The case being heard, NY State Rifle &. Pistol Assoc. v. Corlett, challenges a New York state law, which was upheld by the lower courts, that requires gun owners to obtain a license if they want to carry a gun outside their home. The New York law requires those wanting to obtain a license to carry a good reason to — aside from self-defense.
The concerning question plaguing people’s mind is, why now? Last summer, the Supreme Court denied ten second amendment appeal cases. Now, a year later, they are ready to take on a case that would affect gun laws across every state — a case they denied hearing last year. The difference lies in the fact that last summer, the Supreme Court was ideologically liberal. Now, we have an ideologically conservative court who feels the need to wade into a very hot debate.
It is glaringly obvious that the Supreme Court has become so politicized that they are even now willing to take on highly politicized issues — which is something they once overtly tried to avoid. The implications of this potential ruling are already being felt. This week in Texas, the state Senate created a special committee to push forward the state’s House bill that would make it legal to carry a handgun in public without a permit, background check or training. With a Supreme Court likely willing to back-up gun rights, the state of Texas clearly felt empowered to create the wild, wild west all over again.
I do not find it pertinent to give much of my opinion on the second amendment. However, what I will say is that I do not find comfort in allowing people to walk around with a gun strapped to their hip, especially without any permits, background checks, or training. I do not find solace in having a Supreme Court who is so openly conservative that they decide to take on controversial subject matter to appease their originalist desire to make the United States the way it was in 1789. When the Court begins to take on controversial political questions because of the majority rule, it becomes dangerous. The justices will not likely be exposed to the reality of their NRA buyout, but the American people will.
These types of decisions affect all of us — especially in the wake of another onslaught of mass shootings here in the U.S. There were 160 shootings between Jan. 1 and April 26 this year in which four or more people were injured or killed. These upward trends in gun violence do not spark much reassurance that now is the time to be laxing up on gun laws. These potential new regulations could ultimately affect everyone if the wrong people have more easy access to firearms.
The NRA (National Rifle Association) put 3.2 million dollars into congressional lobbying in 2019. On the contrary, Everytown for Gun Safety put forth 1.3 million dollars in lobbying in the same year. Looking at the amount of money the NRA puts into congressional lobbying shows a direct correlation to the conservative justices that get put on the bench. When you have this much money in politics and you combine that with a hyper-partisan Senate, you receive a recipe for disaster.
These are the real-life implications of having a nine-person Court making decisions for over 300 million people. These are the repercussions warned about when we began to make the Supreme Court highly politicized. There are reasons that the Republican party fought tooth and nail and (ironically) unconstitutionally for, a major reason being the second Amendment and the amass of power and money behind it. We should be gravely concerned for what the Court is becoming and the controversies they are now willing to take on.
The views expressed in the editorial and op-ed sections are not necessarily those of The USD Vista staff, the University of San Diego, or its student body.