2nd Amendment Protects Open Carry of Guns (9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals)

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on July 24, 2018 that the Second Amendment protects the right to openly carry a gun in public for self-defense. In a 2-1 ruling the Court held that Hawaii officials had violated George Young’s rights when he was denied a permit to openly carry a loaded gun in public to protect himself. The decision reversed a lower court ruling that sided with officials who said the amendment only applied to guns kept in homes.

Gun rights is one of the most hotly debated issues in U.S. political and legal circles with any loosening or restriction of access to guns often leading to a court battle. The U.S. Supreme Court has shied away from firearms fights in recent years, turning away challenges to restrictions after striking down gun ownership bans in the District of Columbia and Chicago in 2008 and 2010. (Washington Post, July 24, 2018)