Washington, DC—U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) today made the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on the case of McDonald v. Chicago.
“Today’s ruling is a significant victory for those of us who strongly believe that the Second Amendment should protect the rights of law-abiding citizens to own and purchase firearms,” Lincoln said. “The McDonald decision says that the Second Amendment right to bear arms applies equally to the federal government and the states, which means that state and local governments will now have to demonstrate that legislation restricting the use or possession of a firearm is consistent with the Second Amendment. Further, after today’s ruling, the Second Amendment provides Americans with a constitutional right to possess a firearm. This is a position that I share. I joined with a number of my congressional colleagues last year in signing an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court supporting the Second Amendment as a fundamental individual right applicable to the states.
“As a seventh-generation Arkansan, I know gun ownership is an important part of our state’s heritage. I have always supported the rights of law-abiding citizens to own, purchase, and carry firearms, and I will continue to defend the Second Amendment rights of Arkansans.”
