State Republicans laud gun ban decision

Reaction to the United States Supreme Court's decision in the D.C. v. Heller case emanated from prominent Republicans in Kentucky quickly today, after the high court overturned a Washington, D.C., law banning handgun ownership in a 5-4 decision.

"Today the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects the individual right of law-abiding citizens of the District of Colombia to protect themselves in their own homes," U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Louisville)said in a statement. "This landmark ruling will ensure that regardless of where citizens reside, the government will respect their rights that are guaranteed by the Second Amendment."

In the court's majority opinion, Associate Justice Antonin Scalia concluded "the District's ban on handgun possession in the home violates the Second Amendment, as does its prohibition against rendering any lawful firearm in the home operable for the purpose of immediate self-defense.

Sentiment praising the decision echoed from several other Republicans.

"The Supreme Court's decision today affirms what we have known all along: that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of an individual to own a firearm," said U.S. Rep Geoff Davis (R-Hebron), of Kentucky's 4th Congressional District. "Today, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of freedom and democracy by overturning this unlawful ban."

Both Davis and McConnell were among the 305 members of Congress who signed an Amicus Curae brief submitted to the Supreme Court opposing the D.C. ban.

The Republican candidate for Kentucky's open 2nd Congressional District seat also joined the chorus of praise for the Court.

"I am ecstatic about the Supreme Court's ruling today affirming the right of an individual to keep and bear arms. Today's ruling shows the importance of having judges on the bench who interpret the Constitution as written instead of legislating from the bench," said state Senator Brett Guthrie (R-Bowling Green), who is seeking the seat against state Senator David Boswell (D-Sorgho).

During his primary run against Daviess County Judge/Executive, Boswell himself received the endorsement of the National Rifle Association - a key proponent of overturning the D.C. ban.

A leading Republican in the state legislature also jumped in the mix, taking time to swing at presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee, Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.).

"The Supreme Court's decision to lift the ban on the law-abiding citizens of Washington, D.C., from exercising their fundamental right to bear arms is a victory to all citizens who value their constitutional rights," said Williams in a statement. "The importance of this decision will also be a factor in the presidential election considering Barack Obama's record of consistent opposition to gun owner's rights."

The Bluegrass state was the venue for extensive posturing on 2nd Amendment arguments in May, when Louisville hosted the annual meeting of the National Rifle Association.

There, Obama was on the receiving end of a verbal lambasting from prominent conservatives and Republican politicians.

Today, the Republican National Congressional Committee used the Heller decision to target a handful of Democratic members of Congress who had refrained from signing the same Amicus brief as McConnell and Davis.

Louisville's Democratic U.S. Rep John Yarmuth was on the receiving end of the RNCC's criticism.

Polwatchers reports one Kentucky Democrat publicly took the side of the Supreme Court majority today.

Attorney General Jack Conway's (D-Louisville) office released the following statement:

"While Attorney General Conway hasn't reviewed the lengthy legal opinion, he was pleased to sign on to the amicus brief with 31 other attorneys general in asking the Supreme Court to overturn the District of Columbia's possessive gun ban. The attorney general is gratified that the court recognized an individual's constitutional right as Americans to keep and bear arms."

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