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An Amicus Brief No. 07-290 In the Supreme Court———— of the United States DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND ADRIAN FENTY, MAYOR OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Petitioners, v. DICK ANTHONY HELLER, Respondent. ———— On Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ———— BRIEF SUPPORTING PETITIONERS OF AMICI CURIAE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE, ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE, BAPTIST PEACE FELLOWSHIP OF NORTH AMERICA, CEASEFIRE NJ, CENTRAL CONFERENCE OF AMERICAN RABBIS, CITIZENS FOR A SAFER MINNESOTA, METHODIST FEDERATION FOR SOCIAL ACTION, CLIFTON KIRKPATRICK IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE STATED CLERK OF THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (U.S.A.), EDUCATIONAL FUND TO STOP GUN VIOLENCE, FREEDOM STATES ALLIANCE, AMERICAN JEWISH CONGRESS, FRIENDS COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL LEGISLATION, GRAY PANTHERS, GUNFREEKIDS.ORG, ILLINOIS COUNCIL AGAINST (list of amici continues on inside cover) ———— JANIS M. MEYER JEFFREY A. LAMKEN LAWRENCE M. HILL Counsel of Record D. RANDALL BENN ALLYSON N. HO JEFFREY L. KESSLER MARTIN V. TOTARO MICHAEL C. DORF STEPHANIE DOURADO WILLIAM C. HEUER BAKER BOTTS LLP ROBERT E. CORTES 1299 Pennsylvania Ave., NW DOUGLAS W. MATEYASCHUK, II Washington, DC 20004-2400 DEWEY & LEBOEUF LLP (202) 639-7700 1301 Avenue Of The Americas New York, NY 10019-6092 (212) 259-8000 Counsel for Amici Curiae [Additional Counsel Listed on Inside Cover] WILSON-EPES PRINTING CO., INC. – (202) 789-0096 – WASHINGTON, D.C. 20002 No. 07-290 (list of amici, continued from front cover) HANDGUN VIOLENCE, ILLINOISVICTIMS.ORG, IOWANS FOR THE PREVENTION OF GUN VIOLENCE, JENNA FOUNDATION FOR NONVIOLENCE, INC., KARLA ZIMMERMAN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE, NATIONAL COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN, NEW ENGLAND COALITION TO PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE, NEW YORKERS AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE, DC STATEHOOD GREEN PARTY, NORTH CAROLINIANS AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE EDUCATION FUND, OHIO COALITION AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE, RENÉE OLUMBUNI RONDEAU PEACE FOUNDATION, ROOT (REACHING OUT TO OTHERS TOGETHER) INC., UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM, VIRGINIA CENTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY, WISCONSIN ANTI-VIOLENCE EFFORT, AND CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE ———— (list of counsel, continued from front cover) JOHN E. SCHREIBER KENNON PETERSON DEWEY & LEBOEUF LLP MELISSA ARMSTRONG 333 South Grand Ave. BAKER BOTTS LLP Suite 2600 1500 San Jacinto Center Los Angeles, CA 90071-1530 98 San Jacinto Blvd. (213) 621-6000 Austin, TX 78701-4078 (512) 322-2500 SAYRE WEAVER JOSH HORWITZ THE EDUCATIONAL FUND TO STOP GUN VIOLENCE 1023 15th Street, NW Suite 301 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 408-7560 Counsel for Amici Curiae WILSON-EPES PRINTING CO., INC. – (202) 789-0096 – WASHINGTON, D.C. 20002 QUESTION PRESENTED Whether the following provisions—D.C. Code §§ 7- 2502.02(a)(4), 22-4504(a), and 7-2507.02—violate the Second Amendment rights of individuals who are not affiliated with any state-regulated militia, but who wish to keep handguns and other firearms for private use in their homes? (i) TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Question Presented ..................................................... i Interest Of Amici Curiae........................................... 2 Introduction And Summary Of Argument............... 3 Argument...................................................................... 5 I. The Second Amendment Is Rooted In The Protection Of Individual Liberty Provided By Federalism................................. 5 A. Text And History Confirm That The Second Amendment Protects State Autonomy By Creating Militia- Related Rights........................................... 7 1. Text And Structure Make Clear That the Second Amendment Is A Militia- And Federalism-Based Protection ............................................. 8 2. The Contemporaneous Debates Confirm The Second Amend- ment’s Purpose .................................... 14 II. Pre- And Post-Ratification Events Confirm That The Second Amendment Embodies Federalism Principles.................. 21 A. State Laws Enacted Before And After The Second Amendment’s Adoption Confirm That It Reinforces Federalism ................................................. 21 B. The Role Of State Militias In Modern Times Cannot Alter The Constitu- tion’s Meaning............................................ 27 (iii) iv TABLE OF CONTENTS—Continued Page III. The Practices Of Nations Sharing Our Common-Law Heritage Confirm The Second Amendment’s Unique Roots In American Federalism ..................................... 27 A. England And Canada Have Handgun Bans That Closely Parallel D.C.’s ............................................ 28 B. Australia, New Zealand, And South Africa All Strictly Regulate Firearms..................................................... 29 Conclusion..................................................................... 32 Appendix A – Descriptions of Amici Curiae........... 1a Appendix B – State Militia Statutes ......................... 10a Appendix C – Historical Debates And Materials................................................................. 37a v TABLE OF AUTHORITIES Page CASES Adams v. Williams, 407 U.S. 143 (1972) ............. 14 Alden v. Maine, 527 U.S. 706 (1999) .................... 5 Burrow-Giles Lithographic Co. v. Sarony, 111 U.S. 53 (1884)............................................... 21 Cohens v. Virginia, 19 U.S. (6 Wheat.) 264 (1821).................................................................... 11 Eldred v. Ashcroft, 537 U.S. 186 (2003) ............... 21 Geier v. Am. Honda Motor Co., Inc., 529 U.S. 861 (2000).................................................... 11 Gregory v. Ashcroft, 501 U.S. 452 (1991)............. 5, 6 Knowlton v. Moore, 178 U.S. 41 (1900)................ 21 Lewis v. United States, 445 U.S. 55 (1980).......... 6 New York v. United States, 505 U.S. 144 (1992).................................................................... 5, 7 Perpich v. Dept. of Defense, 496 U.S. 334 (1990).................................................................... 26 Presser v. Illinois, 116 U.S. 252 (1886)................ 6 Printz v. United States, 521 U.S. 898 (1997).................................................................... 5 Saenz v. Roe, 526 U.S. 489 (1999) ......................... 5 Seminole Tribe of Fla. v. Florida, 517 U.S. 44 (1996)...................................................... 5 Silveira v. Lockyer, 312 F.3d 1052 (9th Cir. 2002) ............................................................. 20 Stuart v. Laird, 5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 299 (1803).................................................................... 21 Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1 (1968)............................ 14 vi TABLE OF AUTHORITIES—Continued Page U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton, 514 U.S. 779 (1995).................................................... 5 United States v. Lopez, 514 U.S. 549 (1995).................................................................... 5 United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174 (1939).................................................................... 6 United States v. Morrison, 529 U.S. 598 (2000).................................................................... 6, 7 FEDERAL STATUTES Uniform Militia Act of 1792, ch. 33, 1 Stat. 271 ..................................................................... 24, 26 U.S. Const. Art. I, § 8 ......................................... 9, 10, 11, 15, 16 Art. I, § 8, cl. 12.................................................. 10 Art. I, § 8, cl. 13.................................................. 10 Art. I, § 8, cl. 15.................................................. 10 Art. I, § 8, cl. 16........................................ 10, 15, 18 Art. I, § 10, cl. 3.................................................. 10 Art. II, § 2, cl. 1.................................................. 10 Art. III, § 3 ....................................................... 11 Amend. II ................................................... passim Art. Confed. Art. II ................................................................. 10 Art. VI ................................................................ 9 STATE STATUTES Pa. Const. of 1776 Art. XIII .................................. 23 Act of Mar. 14, 1776, ch. VII, 1775-76 Mass. Acts 31...................................................... 22 vii TABLE OF AUTHORITIES—Continued Page Act of Dec. 18, 1776, 1776 Conn. Pub. Acts 441, 443, 445 ........................................................ 26 Act of Mar. 17, 1777, ch. 750, § XIV, 9 Pa. Stat. 84................................................................. 25 Act of Apr. 8, 1777, ch. XV, 1777 N.C. Laws 58................................................................ 8 Act of May 5, 1777, ch. 111, 1777 Va. Acts 8........ 22 Act of Mar. 17, 1778, ch. VII, § V, 1778 Md. Laws 445, 446.............................................. 22 Act of Apr. 1, 1778, ch. 796, 9 Pa. Stat. 238-39................................................................ 22, 23 Act of 1778, 1778 N.C. Sess. Laws 4, § VI........ 25 Act of Mar. 1, 1783, ch. XIII, Mass. Acts 218-19................................................................ 23 Act of Feb. 5, 1782, 1782 Del. Laws 3, 6 .............. 26 Act of Dec. 6, 1783, ch. 1059, 11 Pa. Laws 209.............................................................. 24 Act of Apr. 13, 1784, ch. 28, 1784 N.Y. Laws 627.............................................................. 24 Act of Mar. 3, 1789, ch. 1396, 13 Pa. Stat. 222 ........................................................................ 23 Act of June 26,
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