The Trump administration is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject a 2nd Amendment claim that would restore the right to own a gun by two Pennsylvania men who were convicted more than 20 years ago of nonviolent crimes.
The case is Sessions v. Binderup. Judge Gardner from Allentown wrote the opinion at the District Court level.
The LA Times reports that the President is in an awkward position given his campaign support to protect 2nd Amendment gun ownership rights. In fact, Trump recently said, “…I will never, ever infringe on the right of the people to keep and bear arms.”
Last year, in a close 8-7 vote, the 3rd Circuit court of Appeals voted to restore the men’s gun ownership rights because they had not committed a serious or violent crime.
Last month, acting Solicitor Gen. Jeffrey B. Wall, representing the Trump administration, filed a brief urging the court to hear the appeal. He said the lower court’s ruling “if allowed to stand … will place an extraordinary administrative burden” on federal judges since people with a criminal record may go to court and seek an exception to the law.
The LA Times article may be found at this link. Stay tuned to hear whether the Supreme Court agrees to hear this appeal.
