Hunters take note: State attorneys are arguing your rifles are not “constitutionally” protected in Connecticut.
In a significant legal debate before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit that could impact hunters across Connecticut, state attorneys are arguing that hunting rifles, particularly semi-automatic ones, are not protected by the Constitution.
According to attorney Joshua Perry, representing the Connecticut Attorney General’s office, the Second Amendment protects guns commonly used for self-defense, but not hunting rifles. As if there is a difference!? Perry’s arguments were made during a hearing at the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit as part of a lawsuit filed by the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) and a co-plaintiff, Toni Theresa Spera.
The lawsuit challenges Connecticut’s restrictive gun control law passed after the Sandy Hook tragedy, which bans the sale of firearms classified as “assault weapons.”
National Association for Gun Rights and Spera believe these laws infringe on their Second Amendment rights. However, Perry contends that Connecticut has the authority to regulate firearms that are not typically used for self-defense, suggesting that hunting rifles do not fall under this category.
Perry also referenced a previous Supreme Court ruling (Columbia v. Heller), which upheld the ban on M16 rifles, stating that the Constitution guarantees the right to self-defense but does not offer blanket protection for all weapons.
National Association for Gun Rights, et al. v. Lamont Oral Argument
Opposing Perry’s stance, attorney Barry Arrington, representing the National Association for Gun Rights, argued that the AR-15, the most popular rifle in the U.S., is neither dangerous nor unusual and should be protected. Arrington pointed out that despite political rhetoric, AR-15s are rarely used in mass shootings, with over 75% of such incidents involving handguns. He criticized Connecticut’s laws as politically motivated rather than based on crime reduction.
This case could set a precedent for how firearms used for hunting are treated under the law, especially as Connecticut continues to defend its strict gun regulations. For now, while hunting rifles remain legal in the state, their constitutional protection remains in question.
Pro-gun audiences should stay tuned, as the Second Circuit’s ruling could have widespread effects on both gun rights and hunting culture in the U.S.
A proper understanding of the 2nd Amendment, as intended by the drafters and those who ratified it, is that citizens may posses any arm useful to an ordinary infantryman. Its purpose is to enable us to assemble an efficient militia. This covers all ordinary firearms: pistols, bolt action rifles, semi-automatic rifles, machine guns, and shotguns.
only RedCoats in England.
Dear Fudd,
Welcome to the party. Nobody NEEDS a sniper rifle with a 30 round scopeazine!!!
Interesting claim that semi-automatic hunting rifles, and all other hunting rifles are not included in the 2nd Amendment. The U.S. has a long history extending from the early 1900’s of ‘progressive’ judges at appelant levels splitting firearms and other weapons into smaller and smaller slices so they can be easily and without great fanfare banned, especially for certain groups of people. Read: “To Trust the People with Arms” for a powerful discussion of how former SCOTUS’ judges supported the Jim Crow laws in both North and South that targeted the 2nd Amendment rights of a specific slice of American citizens:… Read more »
It should’ve been obvious from the get go that Heller was a problem. Why can’t we use an M16 for defense? Or fun? Or hunting coyotes? Or just because we want one? Why doesn’t the 2nd Amendment offer a blanket protection on all weapons? “Shall not be infringed”… Sounds pretty simple to me. Then there’s the “in common use” issue. What happens when the next evolution in small arms comes? Lasers, or whatever? The anti gun nuts will ban them, within days of their being available for sale and have the blessing of the oh so special highest court of… Read more »
Chip, chip, chipping away.
The rifles used in the revolution and civil wars were both.