NOMINATION OF SOTOMAYOR CONCERN FOR 2ND AMENDMENT PROPONENTS
San Antonio, Texas – Second Circuit Court Judge Sonia Sotamayor is President Barack Obama’s nomination to replace retiring Justice David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court. While the appointment of a new U.S. Supreme Court Justice always draws great attention, this nomination is of particular interest to proponents of Second Amendment gun ownership rights.
Of specific concern to Second Amendment proponents is Judge Sotomayor’s (as a member of a Second Circuit Court panel) January 2009 ruling that the Second Amendment is not a fundamental right and does not apply to the states in the case of Maloney v. Cuomo. This ruling is in conflict with the California Ninth Circuit Court case of Nordyke v. King, which stated that the Second Amendment is incorporated to the states and therefore does not place limits on state’s ability to regulate the individual right to keep and bear arms, through the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
A Supreme Court Justice position is a lifetime appointment.
Constituents are encouraged to contact their Senators immediately to express their opinion on this important issue. Texas residents should contact:
U.S. Senator John Cornyn
517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Main: 202-224-2934
Fax: 202-228-2856
