NRA’s Amicus Brief in District of Columbia v. Heller
Read the NRA’s amicus brief submitted in the District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008).
Write a one-page summation of the NRA’s argument. Then, in a second page, answer the following questions:
1. Does the NRA want the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm or overrule the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s opinion?
2. Why?
Your submission should adhere to the following guidelines:
· The total length of your paper should be a minimum of 2 full pages in length.
· Use APA style for general formatting, including margins, font type and font size, spacing, and cover page.
· Include Bluebook formatted citations within the body of the paper and on the References page.
NRA’s Amicus Brief in District of Columbia v. Heller
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Does the NRA want the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm or overrule the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s opinion?,
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Why?,
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What is the NRA’s main argument in its amicus brief?,
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How does the NRA interpret the Second Amendment’s “right to bear arms”?,
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What constitutional principles does the NRA rely on in its reasoning?
Comprehensive Response
Page 1 – Summary of the NRA’s Argument
In its amicus curiae brief for District of Columbia v. Heller, the National Rifle Association (NRA) urged the Supreme Court to uphold the D.C. Circuit Court’s decision recognizing that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to keep and bear arms independent of service in a militia. The NRA argued that the District of Columbia’s Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975, which effectively banned the possession of handguns and required lawfully owned firearms to be kept unloaded and disassembled or bound by a trigger lock, violated the Second Amendment.
The NRA’s brief emphasized that the Second Amendment’s text and historical context clearly identify the right to bear arms as belonging to individuals, not merely to collective entities such as state militias. Drawing upon founding-era documents, the Federalist Papers, and early state constitutions, the NRA argued that the Framers intended to preserve the right of citizens to possess weapons for lawful purposes, including self-defense. The NRA also contended that the D.C. law undermined personal safety by preventing individuals from using firearms for protection in their own homes.
In supporting its argument, the NRA referenced previous judicial interpretations and historical precedents affirming that individual rights are central to the American constitutional structure. The brief rejected the notion that the right to bear arms was limited to organized military service, asserting that such a reading would disregard centuries of jurisprudence and constitutional intent.
Page 2 – Analysis of Court Opinion and Rationale
1. Does the NRA want the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm or overrule the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s opinion?
The NRA urged the Supreme Court to affirm the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
2. Why?
The NRA wanted affirmation because the appellate court correctly recognized that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to own and use firearms for lawful private purposes, particularly self-defense within the home. The NRA argued that reversing this decision would not only contradict the Constitution’s plain meaning but would also set a dangerous precedent limiting personal liberties and undermining the Founders’ intent to prevent government tyranny.
The NRA maintained that self-defense is an inherent right and that the government’s disarmament of law-abiding citizens contradicts the balance of freedom and security envisioned by the Constitution. Furthermore, the organization contended that the District of Columbia’s regulations were ineffective at reducing crime and instead rendered citizens defenseless. By affirming the appellate ruling, the Supreme Court would reaffirm the historical and constitutional understanding that the Second Amendment safeguards individual liberty as a natural right rather than a collective one tied exclusively to militia service.
References
District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008).
National Rifle Association of America, Inc., Amicus Curiae Brief in Support of Respondent, District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008).
U.S. Const. amend. II.