In its McDonald v. Chicago decision, the Supreme Court again affirmed that the Second Amendment individual right to possess guns in the home does not prevent legislators from enacting common-sense gun laws. The court rejected the gun lobby's mantra that "any gun, for anybody, anywhere" is a right protected by the Constitution. The decision explicitly says the Second Amendment allows reasonable restrictions on firearms, including who can have them, under what conditions, where they can be taken, and what types of firearms can be available.
Nothing in the new decision prevents legislatures from passing -- and our courts from defending -- strong, sensible gun laws. Any talk of banning guns is off the table. That being the case, it's time to get serious about banning gun violence. The majority of Minnesotans and Americans want reasonable gun laws to stop felons, domestic abusers, terrorists and dangerously mentally ill people from getting guns. It's now time to act on the wishes of the majority.
Joan A. Peterson
Duluth
The writer is co-president of the Million Mom Northland Chapter, president of the Minnesota Million Mom Chapter, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and a steering committee member for Protect Minnesota Campaign/Board of Citizens for a Safer Minnesota.
