OPINION:
If Al Gore and/or John Kerry had been elected in 2000 and 2004, respectively, you no longer would have the right to possess firearms.
In the case of District of Columbia v. Heller, just five of the nine justices voted to uphold the original meaning of the Second Amendment; the other dissenting, liberal justices would have overturned those rights. Because George Bush was elected in 2000 and again in 2004, he was able to appoint two of the strict constructionist justices who voted to uphold the amendment’s original meaning. Mr. Gore or Mr. Kerry certainly would have appointed liberal justices, making the outcome of this case entirely different.
In this election, only one candidate, Sen. John McCain, has promised to appoint strict constructionist judges to the bench if he is elected, like the ones who voted to uphold our Second Amendment rights.
The other candidate, Sen. Barack Obama, has stated openly that he believes cities and states should have the right to outlaw possession of handguns and that he disagrees with the judicial philosophy of Justice Clarence Thomas, one of the strict constructionist justices who voted to uphold our Second Amendment rights. So, we must assume that if Mr. Obama is elected president, he will appoint only liberal justices, like the ones who would have overturned the Second Amendment.
As you enter the voting booth, think about how much this Supreme Court decision means to you and how important it is to make the right choice for president.
DONALD BARNETT
Woodbridge, Va.
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