NRA in Louisville: Heller takes center stage

LOUISVILLE -- The National Rifle Association's Leadership Forum held in Louisville today falls amid a period of limbo for those on either side of the gun control issue. As gun rights advocates gather for the NRA's annual weekend meeting in Kentucky, the United States Supreme Court is considering a case that is seen by legal analysts to be one of the first genuine tests of the Second Amendment.

The District of Columbia v. Heller case questions the constitutionality of a handgun ban imposed by local governing authorities in Washington, D.C. Oral arguments were heard for the case in mid-March, and a decision from the court is currently pending.

Discussion of Heller from the stage at the Leadership Forum here in Louisville is prevalent. U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) particularly focused her speech on the case today.

"This will be the first time in almost 70 years that the Supreme Court will rule on a Second Amendment case. Its decision will have major implications on all Americans," said Hutchison.

"We have the case before the Supreme Court that is our very best chance, maybe in our lifetimes, to have this settled clearly and unambiguously," Hutchison continued.

Kentucky's senior Senator also stressed the significance of the pending decision.

"Courts continue to be an important front, as the Heller case makes clear," said McConnell.

Hutchison and other speakers at Friday's forum chimed in with opinions on Heller throughout the day.

"This law is a blatant, inexcusable violation of the Second Amendment," said Hutchison. "Can you imagine if your city council voted to ban the First Amendment?"

"The D.C. gun ban is a dangerous precedent," said Congressman Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma)."The ban is unconstitutional, and when the Supreme Coure rules in our favor the real winners will be our loved ones who deserve safety."

Friends of the Court

Hutchison, along with Montana Democratic Senator Jon Tester, gathered a coalition of 55 Senators and 250 Representatives to sign an Amicus Curae brief opposing the ban. The brief was then submitted to the Court for consideration in conjunction with the pending decision.

"The Justices will have to contend with a brief against the ban that boasts a remarkable distinction," said Kentucky's senior U.S. Senator, Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville). "No other Supreme Court brief in United States history has drawn the signatures of more members of Congress."

"We are sending a message to the Supreme Court: the second amendment means what it says," McConnell continued.

Injecting a little bit of Presidential politics into the mix - as was a frequent occurrence for speakers on the day - Hutchison spoke about where three particular U.S. Senators stood with regard to signing the brief.

"John McCain signed the brief. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama did not. Enough said," said Hutchison.

NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre built on this charge by presenting a hypothetical story about a hypothetical Washington, D.C. resident facing a home invasion.

"You are home at your bed at 2am in the morning. The whole family is asleep and then CRASH...They're in you're house," said Lapierre. "But DC law leaves you completely defenseless and alone. The mayor is not there with you, the police chief is not there with you. No cops, prosecutors or judges. For darn sure Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are not there with you."

More Hunting Jokes

Hutchinson also noted that Vice President Dick Cheney signed the brief. She said when she was trying to convince him to do so, she told him "it is important that you sign this, because we want to protect every citizen's right to be shot by the Vice President."

Incidentally, that is the second recent public remark in Louisville to reference Cheney's accidental 2006 shooting of hunting partner Harry Whittington.

At last week's Kentucky Democratic Party fundraiser, Governor Steve Beshear (D-Lexington) said "I can think of only one Republican who can be a problem solver and that is Vice President Cheney, if he would just take George on a hunting trip," Beshear said.

Some state Republicans later asked Beshear to apologize for the remark.

The architect of the anti-ban Amicus brief pushed by Hutchison was also in attendance at today's Forum. Attorney Stephen Halbrook received a round of applause from the crowd when acknowledged by Hutchison.

Keynote speaker and presumptive Republican Presidential nominee John McCain (R-Arizona) structured most of his speech around gun rights, and connected the Heller decision with his assertion that he would nominate judges friendly to the NRA, should he win the Presidency.

"[H]owever that case is decided, the federal judiciary will continue to be an important forum for protecting Second Amendment rights," said McCain. "My two prospective opponents and I have very different ideas about the nature and proper exercise of judicial power. We would nominate judges of a different kind, a different caliber, a different understanding of judicial authority and its limits."

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