New York, NY, June 28, 2010 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed disappointment in the narrow 5-4 Supreme Court decision limiting the rights of states to regulate firearms.

The case, McDonald v. City of Chicago, focused on whether the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits most regulation of firearms by cities and states.

Robert G. Sugarman, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director issued the following statement:

Today's Supreme Court decision limiting the rights of states to regulate firearms is a disappointing setback in the fight against extremism and violence.  We deeply regret that the Court has restricted the latitude that cities and states retain to keep guns out of the hands of extremists, terrorists and violent bigots.  The decision makes America a less safe place for law enforcement officers and the communities they protect. 

 

Extremists and those who commit hate crimes pose a serious threat to law enforcement, the general public and, more specifically, to members of the discrete racial, ethnic and religious groups who are often their targets.  Unfortunately, we have seen armed extremists take targeted violent action with unsettling frequency and profoundly tragic results. 

 

ADL has long supported the reasonable regulation of firearms, particularly when it comes to the possession of weapons by extremists.  The League will continue to support common sense restrictions aimed at thwarting the violent intentions of international and domestic extremist organizations. 

ADL's amicus brief was prepared by Martin E. Karlinsky and Leonard M. Niehoff of the law firm, Butzel Long, PC.