Activist judges still pose threat

July 5, 2008

The landmark decision of the Supreme Court on the Washington handgun law yielded two eye-opening revelations of critical importance to Americans ("Justices back gun owners," June 27).

The first is the majority opinion that the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment does give gun rights to individuals.

But the second revelation is that the reasoning behind the opinions of the dissenting justices should send cold shivers down the spines of freedom-loving Americans.

In his dissent, Justice John Paul Stevens suggests that the Second Amendment should not interfere with legislators' intent. The majority opinion, he says, "would have us believe that over 200 years ago, the Framers made a choice to limit the tools available to elected officials wishing to regulate civilian uses of weapons. ... I could not possibly conclude that the Framers made such a choice. For these reasons, I respectfully dissent."

Is the Bill of Rights not a limitation on the work of elected officials?

I used to think so. However, the court's ruling expanding eminent domain powers in the case of Kelo v. New London changed my mind.

Apparently, the Supreme Court has the power to virtually rewrite the Constitution without the approval of Americans.

I fear for our freedoms if our next president nominates a person to fill a Supreme Court vacancy who thinks the way that the dissenting justices in District of Columbia v. Heller do or the majority of justices in the Kelo v. New London ruling do.

I believe that had President Bush not nominated Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. and Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., a Kelo v. New London-style Supreme Court would have, in effect, struck down the Second Amendment in last week's ruling - and there is no appeal beyond the Supreme Court.

Earl P. Weaver

New Freedom, Pa.

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