ChicagoGunCase.com

Petitioner’s Brief for McDonald v. Chicago

The Second Amendment Foundation today filed its much-anticipated brief to the United States Supreme Court in the case of McDonald v. Chicago, which challenges the constitutionality of that city’s ban on handguns.
SAF is joined in the lawsuit by the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) and four individual plaintiffs. They are represented by attorney Alan Gura, who successfully argued the landmark Heller case before the high court in 2008, leading to a ruling that the Second Amendment affirms and protects an individual right to keep and bear arms beyond the scope of serving in a militia. Gura is joined in the effort by Chicago-area attorney David G. Sigale.

The McDonald case not only challenges the Chicago ban, but also brings up the question of application of the right to keep and bear arms to the states through the 14th Amendment.

“Our filing today will help establish that the right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right of American citizenship no city official can violate,” Gura said.

Alan Gottlieb, SAF founder and executive vice president, added, “We brought this case because the Chicago ban has denied law-abiding citizens the exercise of a basic civil right for more than 20 years. We are delighted to bring this action with our colleagues  in Illinois because this kind of onerous regulation simply cannot go unchallenged.”