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Federal Judge in Massachussetts Rules Assault weapons NOT protected by 2nd Amendment

According to U.S. District Judge William Young assault weapons like the AR-15 and large-capacity magazines are not protected by the Second Amendment. Judge Young dismissed a challenge to the state’s 20-year ban on the weapons saying
saying assault weapons are military firearms that fall beyond the reach of the constitutional right to “bear arms.”
Judge Young did not say owning such weapons in other states was unconstitutional, that is up to the states, but the 2nd Amendment does not prevent states who choose to do so from banning the weapons or protect citizens from such a ban.

“Other states are equally free to leave them unregulated and available to their law-abiding citizens,” Young said. “These policy matters are simply not of constitutional moment. Americans are not afraid of bumptious, raucous and robust debate about these matters. We call it democracy.”

State Attorney General Maura Healey said the ruling “vindicates the right of the people of Massachusetts to protect themselves from these weapons of war.”

“Strong gun laws save lives, and we will not be intimidated by the gun lobby in our efforts to end the sale of assault weapons and protect our communities and schools,” Healey, a Democrat, said in a statement. “Families across the country should take heart in this victory.”

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Jamie Moses

Jamie Moses founded Artvoice in 1990

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  • If strong gun laws work, why are the greater number of deaths from guns in cities with the most strict anti-gun legislation? Chicago, Baltimore, Miami and Philadelphia lead the nation in gun related deaths. Do away with gun free zones and hire well trained people to guard our children in schools. In 2001 we had terrible plane hijackings with horrible consequences. Within 7 weeks we developed door systems that prevented entry into the cockpit, we armed the pilots and co-pilots and we strengthened security check ins and surveillance with TSA and US Troops. Since Columbine what has been done to thwart the occasional malcontent ?? Nothing is the correct answer.
    GUN LAWS WILL NOT STOP THIS MAYHEM!
    Btw why wasn’t there an outcry like this when JFK,ML KING and RFK WERE SHOT AND KILLED?