I know this is out of scope of the conversation, but do the taxpayers have to pay for secret service to protect John McCain's nine homes if he becomes president?

If everyone has to keep a gun to protect himself from criminals, who then are the criminal? It's no use having the police when everyone can be the police of our lives. Let's define our duties right. "The troubled mind uses the body within its environment with the available resources." A possessed mind bent on committing crime will use the most effective available instrument for that: The GUN. Obama, please Keep the guns far from our reach because "no mad man knew he was gonna go mad."

Aba, Nigeria

Thank God I live in Canada!! People need to get a grip on the fact that guns do kill and allot of innocent children die from guns that are left around peoples homes. I never, ever will understand the gun laws all I know is compare Britains deaths by firearms along side Canada's and the truth is the last thing the U.S. needs is more guns!!
Please, just keep them down there because we have safer cities and towns because of our gun laws. Thank God! .

"To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; credible we must be truthful." - Edward R. Murrow

CNN and MSNBC and their role in the biased coverage of the Democratic primary. Unconscionable.

What about the 3 year old that goes in Daddy's closet?

Lisa……….. Guns Kill!!…………Lisa ……….. For the first time in my adult life guns should be illegal………something IS WRONG!!!!!!……………………
YOU know it is better to meet you on the BLOG !!!!1

kilo June 26th, 2008 4:44 pm ET

The word "arms" does not directly translate to "handguns."

Handguns did not exist upon the creation of the Second Amendment to the Constitution.
__________________________

Ahhh…..another idiot who has never studied history.

Bishop wrote:

"… and very uneducated people are obtaining these weapons."

You mean a college education makes you a more responsible gun owner?

c. bailey wrote:

"… America … is still wondering how other countries with lower crime rates and smaller prison populations do it?"

The countries with low crime rates have better quality populations.

Are all of you bitter people that cling to your guns and Bible? Obama goes the way the wind blows.

From another ticker Beth-Florida wrote:

"We need unions like we need affirmative action…

Free America Now!

Go McCain 08″

Exactly which "we" do you represent. I completed a masters program at a historically black university along with several other grads like me. I've worked at 3 multi-billion dollar corporations during my ten-year career and for 10 years, I have been one of VERY few. I know for a fact that they and I were hired as a result of affirmative action. So combining your comment with my perspective, unions are needed b/c affirmative action sure as hell is.

As the 401ks, pensions and other retirement funds starting to dry up Americans do not care who take over this sinking ship, just get us back to solid ground. Obama is about the best suited to be the Admiral.

Americans and Guns… Unbelievable….. How any country could put gun ownership in their constitution is mind-numbingly stupid. And how it could last 200 years, with the majority of the population supporting it is equally bewildering.

Do the rest of the world a favor, and stop whining about the violence that surrounds you, buy all the guns you possibly can, and shoot each other, until all that's left is an intelligent population that can figure out that 2nd Amendment is the most retarded thing ever written.

AS A SEVENTY YEAR OLD VETERAN, EX POLICE OFFICER, AND AN EX AVID HUNTER, I GREW U P OWNING A GUN. I WAS TAUGHT GUN SAFETY IN MY EARLY CHILDHOOD. TO YOU UNINFORMED PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE AGAINST CITIZENS OWNING GUNS I HAVE ONE THING TO SAY. YOU ARE NUTS. I F A CRIMNAL BREAKS IN YOUR DOOR AND SHOOTS YOUHOW WOULD YOU DEFEND YOUR SELF. IF YOU SAY THE POLICE WILL HANDLE IT. BUT DOES A POLICE OFFFICER LIVE WITH YOU. IT PROBABLY IS A STOLEN GUN.HE USES ANY WAY. WE HAVE A CASTLE LAW HERE IN TEXAS. WE HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECT OUR SELVES AND OUR HOME. I LIKE THE IDEA THAT IF HE BREAKS IN MY DOOR HE CAN EAT A 357 WAD CUTTER.

Hey CNN, you might want to change your post so it reads "death penalty could not apply to child RAPISTS" instead of "death penalty could not apply to child rape VICTIMS." Just FYI.

That is why you have a three branches of govt. 9 year olds can tell you that. People on the hill have been sleeping. Attention is brought to the fore when it becomes an issue. So at least that should get them busy.

Three correct 5-4 rulings by the court. Three votes in the majority by Justice Kennedy. There's a pattern here.

Justice Kennedy is by far the best of that bunch. He judges each case on its merits in the Constitution as explicitly stated and takes absolutely no cues from the partisans, which cannot be said about ANY of the other justices on the court. We need more people like him on the court. I'm pretty sure we're not going to get them from either McCain or Obama.

To Clinton/McCain, Evidently you voted for the two biggest terrorists in history, Bush & Cheney. They have done bin Laden's work for him by single handedly destroying our country and our way of life. If they are not already on it they should be on Al Qaidea's payroll. They both should be permanent residents of Gitmo with the other terrorist criminals.

OBAMA WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE FACE OF THE SUPREME COURT SO THAT ROBERTS, ALITO AND THOMAS WILL ALWAYS BE IN THE MINORITY.
AGREE WITH OBAMA'S STANCE ON THE DEATH PENALTY.
THERE ARE INDEED INSTANCES WHERE THE RAPE CONVICTION OF A RAPIST SUCH AS THE CASE OF THE HUGE MAN RAPING HIS STEPDAUGHTER DESERVES THE DEATH PENALTY.
JUST AN AISDE HERE WHERE IT BELONGS: THIS NADER GUY WHO SHOWS UP IN EVERY PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION COULD GET MY 2 CENTS IF HE HAD A RECORD OF EVER BEEN ELECTED
TO CONGRESS OR THE STATE LEGISLATURE. THIS IS DEFINITELY HIS LAST HURRAH . HE IS SO OUT OF TOUCH.

Yea who cares what the constitution says! How funny you see no problem with the court making up law thats not in the constitution but get upset that they affirm something that is in black and white. If you dont like the constitution change it with an amendment not by judges pulling it out of their asre.

Oh please Wolf….you're smarter than this. Upholding the 2nd Amendment is MUCH different than Roe v. Wade. The people who really believe Roe will be overturned crack me up!!!! I can't believe they fall for it. (By the way……..yes, I'm a female. I'm also an attorney so I'm not blind to the Courts. Roe will NOT be overturned.)

Do you realize that in the 35 yrs that Roe has been in place, we have had a REPUBLICAN President for approximately 23 of those years. That means Republican appointed Justices…..and still……..it hasn't been overturned!!!!

People do not understand…….overturning Roe v. Wade is a political threat. They hang it over our heads EVERY election year, and Americans fall for it time after time. lol Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…..

May I also point out that McCain voted to CONFIRM Justices Ginsberg and Breyer (our two most liberal justices). Additionally, don't doubt the Justices' intelligence. Whether they are liberal or conservative, the Justices are some of the most brilliant legal minds in the country. They will not overturn a case that will lead to PURE PANDEMONIUM!!! The last thing they want is anarchy. More lawsuits in already clogged dockets, back alley abortions being performed by individuals who aren't even doctors, women dying and being hospitialized, law breaking…..not to mention it will complicate an already screwy health care system in the U.S. GET REAL, BE SMART….its not going to be overturned folks!

Dear Obama Supporters

If you vote for Obama you are voting for a person without any substantial experience, a person without believable policies, because all of his policies belonged to Hillary R. Clinton. And he still does not understand the whole implementation of these plans.

Your man, Obama is a man without substance, integrity, a racist because he keeps using the race card, he is also a weak leader and a poor excuse for a candidate.

This nomination was given to Obama by the DNC, the RBC, the media and the super delegated and this fact will go down in history, as the point of decline of the Democratic Party.

So, stop telling us Clinton supporters to "GET OVER IT" because we never will, because the discrepancy effected all of us, her supporters and that we will never forget, never!

So, what I suggest is you Obomabots "GET OVER THE FACT" that we are not going away!

God Bless America!

But Kennedy sided with the liberals in two other major 5-4 decisions, including Wednesday’s ruling that the death penalty could not apply to child rape victims."

I sure hope so, the victims have been through enough!

I don't care about the court being 'balanced.' I care about them making sound judgements people respect.

THIS AND OBAMA AND HIS SUPPORTERS IS WHY I AM NOT ALIBERAL ANYMORE. CALL ME INDEPENDENT. HILLARY I AM ASHAMED OF YOU AND TO THINK I SUPPORTED YOU. YOU ARE SELLING US OUT. ALL 18,000,000 VOTERS THAT VOTED FOR YOU.

Before voting, listen to "where is the love" by the black eyed peas. Thats all I have to say

Over 21, register a gun and register for the draft. These people who want to have a gun probably will never have to shoot that gun. Lets spread the deployment burden around a bit and give our men and women who serve in the military and thier families a break.

If we can allow mothers to kill babies, we can allow the the "right to bear arms." After all, we're certainly not letting "Thou Shall Not Kill" have any bearing. Man's Law vs. God's Law - looks like nothing much has changed since Cain and Abel.

For everyone who is anti-gun I challenge you to do this:

Place a sign in your yard or window that says "GUN FREE ZONE"

Get back to us on who shows up at night over the next several weeks.

How about this. Anyone over 21 who can register a gun for "protection" also registers for the DRAFT. Many of these punks on the street who want to settle their kindergarden feuds with guns are the biggest cowards! Most of them are dumb bunnies who cant even shoot( or hit a real target anyway ) They would run screaming for thier "mommy" at the thought of being hit by a roadside bomb but they will shoot at their stupid criminal buddies in a schoolyard. I am the anxious spouse of a US Army soldier serving yet another tour in Iraq. Could we get a few of these wanna be gunslingers to go over and help out so our men and women can have a break?

Ths 2nd ammendment to the Constitution is the Lexington and Concord ammendment, where the British attempted to take the arms from the people. It's intent was to ensure that the citizens had rights that they did not have under British rule. The new federal government was no more trusted than the former British government had been.

To this end, I believe that the 2nd ammendment confers upon us the ability to own any weapon that the governemt could use against it's citizens. If we with to ban handguns, then we need to ban handguns from everyone, including police, FBI, etc. Or ban all automatic or semi-automatic weapons. Maybe everyone can have a small calibre handgun, but we outlaw the large calibre ones.

This does not preclude the government from using nuclear bombs against it's foreign enemies, but not against it's citizens.

It is simply a matter of balance.

Iam am for the owning of a gun The think I find funny is no-one ever complains about Bullets. Guns dont kill people Bullets do…………just think about it

The judges are there to make the best decisions in a fair manner, but of course they will always be biased depending on their own beliefs. So to all those disgruntled women who would vote McSame because they feel Hillary had been wronged, I would say "go ahead". These are the ones who do not know that their freedom of speech, rights , thoughts and deeds will only realize what they have lost when they do not have them any longer. Right now, they have the freedom to do what they want and the freedom to not only be bitter but stupid.

Although I hate the idea of more guns being on the streets… I have to agree with ALECO1…

Making something illegal will not take it off the streets. Drugs like Pot, Cocaine, etc. are all illegal… yet I can get any drug I want within an hour just by making a phone call or two. Citizens being allowed to own guns puts them on a level playing field with criminals who would get them regardless of whether they are legal or not.

But I do think that there should be a more stringent gun ownership license… a required gun safety course… to make sure that people, especially with kids, have it beat into their heads the importance of gun safety and keeping the guns well out of reach of kids.

To all the women voters out there,

If McCain is president he will likely be able to appoint 2 new supreme court justices. And I tell you now, they will take away your right to choose. Mark my words. Vote according to your interests.

I agreed with the Gun decision, but disagreed with the Rape decision. What does that make me? Does anyone know?

There's not a law or rule a criminal is going to follow with guns. Get real here. The constitutional right to defend yourself is how this country was founded.

The Rape decision was a mistake. The damage that man did to that little girl is far worse than death. Feeding him three squares and having a roof over his head is WAY more the he deserves.

we, i believe need to rectify the conditions in which people live that make them "criminals". off setting the addiction to drugs, the lives of hopelessness, failed education and the likes. if we change the atmosphere created by media, TV, and movies we will see a change in the use of guns.

what does Wolf meant by saying Obama is bitting his tongue in his comment? I will advice that you start to accept the reality that this is a well calculated, well educated, intelligent, smart man in all respect who may one day become the President of God's own country. Your side comments on your situation room about Obama is evident to your viewers. Your journalism is too negative and one sided against Obama.

Many Americans are unaware that the balance of the S Ct is up for grabs with the next president, and I truly believe appointing justices is the most important role the next pres. will play. It is imperative we elect Barack Obama or else we will likely slide back into the judicial dark ages. Long live Justice Stevens!

Obama's recent opposition to the rape case makes me uncomfortable. His sense of balance on delicate issues is becoming obvious. I wondered for a moment if we will be looking at the introduction of Sharia law in the US if he is President. It was suggested by an Archbishop in the UK and was welcomed by some groups. He has shown support for the rainbow organization. I think what McCain would be more practical in his arguments on these issues for women.

Unless you are a registered gun owner, and registered to the gun you are using, you are still breaking the law, 2nd Ammendment or not. Go get registered.

The sentence reading "But Kennedy sided with the liberals in two other major 5-4 decisions, including Wednesday’s ruling that the death penalty could not apply to child rape victims" should say 'child rapists' instead of 'child rape victims.' Sentencing child rape victims to death seems needlessly cruel. Some sharia judges might not even go that far.

Thank God Obama is going to be president.

Look at the guys who comment here. There is no consrvative or liberal judge. They have to interpret the constituion. How can you ban guns when our second amendment allows us to bear arms.
Hre you are saying Obama 2008. For what? He is an idiot. USA has their power in the world and we must keep it that way. Barackl will make us like any other country including 3rd world country. Barack go away.CNN you must be fair to publish these comments. It is the truth.

For all the opponents to hand guns…make sure to tell the armed robber in your house how you feel about guns…I'm sure they'll care!

Roe v. Wade was supported by REPUBLICAN JUDGES folks.

If you have a Constitutional LAW Judge, their job is to apply existing law, NOT overturn it. Law rises above partys. Judges vote according to the law, NOT according to parties.

Wolf, you should be ashamed of yourself. You know McCain won't try to overturn Roe v. Wade. It takes the HOUSE and the SENATE to write a new law to overturn it. Quit the FEAR Bating…what you are saying is simply not true.

The right decision was made just like the right decision has be made on the last 2 major supreme court decision. I don't believe that this decision stated that you can own any kind of gun that you want but the DC law pretty much made it illegal for a law abiding resident to own a gun in their home. I have no desire to own a gun and believe that some restrictions are constitutional but I think it's pretty obvious that the founding fathers wanted the citizens to have the right to own firearms on some level. The idea that we have a military, police officers, and a national guard doesn't change the fact that the bill of rights talks about INDIVIDUAL rights and if you read about the framers of the constitution it's pretty obvious that they were talking about individuals. Like I said, I believe in restriction on some level but the bill of rights is the document that also protects free speech, freedom of and from religion, the right to choose and so on so this document needs to be respected and followed. I am proud to be an american when I read our consitution and how progressive and intellegent our founding fathers were.

Wolf,Can you tell me why Barack is quiet? Democrats are quiet because they know that they can lose elections. However they have a plan to bring liberal judges to the Supreme Court. American people are watching it. We do not want Barack to be our president. he has radical policies. Vote John McCain.

Enough already, Clinton/McCain - we get it. You're a republican and want to divide the democrats as much as possible. You're sooo smart! I wish I could have no confidence in my canidate and have to make up lies about the other guy just like you.

I'm not creative enough to make up all sorts of inflammatory and untrue remarks that are aimed at the uneducated slightly racist people that would be swayed into voting for McCain out of unfounded fears.

Try to be more creative next time. Or better yet, go support your own canidate and leave ours alone. Real democrats will never be fooled into voting for the opposite ideals that Clinton and Obama both share, just to spite the DNC. We don't want to live another 8 years in this mess that McCain is just fine with.

Do pens make spelling errors? Or is it the person with the pen?

Do we want more liberal justices so next time we lose our 2nd Amendment rights? Do we need more liberal justices who side with rapists of children and terrorists? That's the kind of justices Obama will nominate. Obama will be America's worst nightmare.

from what I heard the court still left open the rights of government to regulate the sale and possesion of fire arms, which is the most important thing. The second amendment is not going away, which I have no problem with……but I do have problems with automatic weapons, the gun show loophole etc. If those things can be regulated, I have no problem with the courts ruling.

I do however wish that people cared as much about the 4th amendment as they do about the 2nd.

Good thing Obama's gonna sweep the election. For McCain to fill up the Supreme Court with Republican/Conservative cronies would destroy American Freedom. Why would American Freedom be destroyed, you ask?

Because 'Freedom', by Webster's definition, means "the quality or state of being free: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action". McCain's Supreme Court would take away a woman's right to choose… amongst other freedoms of US Citizens.

Freedom is ENTIRELY about having a CHOICE. Without having something else to choose from, all that is left is to follow directives made by a fascist dictator and government. We've already had to do that for almost 8 years and look at the state of our nation today.

Wolf:

You are not Russert … Not even close … Please shut up! You grate on me like no other "journalist" … And I use that term loosely, very loosely.

I love it when conservatives complain about activist, liberal judges and claim that allowing them to be on the bench will drastically change the course of our country without regard to what the people (i.e., the legislature) has to say. The Court's ruling today, which was issued by the conservative justices, will have drastic consequences on all of the gun-control laws throughout the entire country. Are you ready? Brace yourself for the barage of litigation challenging every single gun-control law–local, state, and federal–throughout the land.

RE: last comment - I addressed the wrong issue. speed reading again. thought this was the one about the death penalty can't be enforced for child rapists.

no to handguns
yes to death penalty for child rapists.

Besides Roe V Wade here are a few reasons why we all should be careful what we wish for in November

John McCain is one of only a few Senators to earn a Zero percent lifetime rating from Planned Parenthood’s Action Fund, and he only scored that high because the organization doesn’t have a lower rating…. Let’s look at his record:

He voted against requiring health care plans to cover birth control (3/22/03).

He voted against comprehensive, medically accurate sex education (7/25/06).

He voted against international family planning funding (3/14/96).

He voted against funding to prevent teen and unintended pregnancies (3/17/05).

He voted against public education for emergency contraception (3/17/05).

And he voted against restoring Medicaid funding that could be used for family planning for low-income women (3/17/05).

I was pleased to read that Obama has a rather conservative take on this issue by leaving it up to the states and that no uniform prohibition should rule on this issue. He is conservative just where he needs to be. There is no moral dilemma on this issue….and I am what many would consider a liberal.

How many stories have we heard of people with guns using them against other people? Whether it's the kid who brings the family gun to school, high school or college students who take them to school, drive-bys, estranged spouses, or disgruntled employees who take them to work, the end result is all the same. These guns weren't used to protect a home, they were used against another person in anger.

More blood destined to be spilt!

I'm completely with Ken in NM (June 26th, 2008 4:32 pm ET ).

I do find disagreements with Kennedy every once in awhile, but overall, it seems that I usually agree with whichever side he chooses. I'm not sure I agreed with his position regarding the death sentence for child rape case earlier this week, but this decision and the decision on habeus corpus have been on the money.

It still amazes me that people don't understand what the Founding Fathers envisioned with the 2nd Amendment. Just read the other public documents regarding the topic that were written by the Bill of Rights' authors, like the Federalist Papers or other pamphelets of the time.

Sam Adams said that the [b]"Constitution shall never be construed . . . to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms." [/b] James Madison in Federalist 46 said "The advantage of being armed . . . the Americans possess over the people of all other nations . . . Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several Kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."

Bishop: Who are you to call gun-owners uneducated when you can't even spell the Vice-President's last name?

I was and am a Senator Hillary Clinton supporter. I will be voting for Barack Obama in November. I will vote for him regardless of who is the vice-presidential candidate. I am still convinced that Senator Clinton was the best candidate but I will support the democratic nominees.

Senator Obama should choose Senator Clinton to be the vp candidate because she brings to the table a diverse support group which Obama has failed to connect with significantly. He should pick her because she has proven that she is a very capable leader and also that she could be a good president. He should pick her because she is strong and determined and not afraid to face controversy which is exactly what you need in a candidate and a vp. He should pick her because she immediately gives him more gravitas and because she can give him some inroads in some of the swing states. He should pick her because women make up more than half of the electorate and she has the message and staff to mobilize them.

She should accept if offered because although it is not what she was aiming for, she would be the first woman vice-president of the United States. She should accept if offered because it would give her the platform to advance the programs she believes in like achieving true universal health care. She should accept if offered because she will be blamed if he loses the election no matter what, but less if she is on the ticket. She should accept if offered because she will continue to be an inspiration to the next generation of women who try to achieve their dreams.

I am convinced that everyone on this blog who makes derogatory remarks toward Obama or Clinton would not have voted for either one anyway and is just trying to upset democrats. If you support Obama then you will vote for him no matter who he picks for vp and if you are a Clinton supporter you will vote for Obama whether she is on the ticket or not. The only difference is how enthusiastic you will be doing it.

It's not about "liberal" vs "conservative" judges. Just boils down to defending the constitution and civil liberties. That's why Kennedy sided no death penalty for rapists and right to trial for Guantamo prisoners.

The Supreme Court voted fairly in each instance on the side of rights and justice.

Yes, I do want a more conservative court. To think that they were one vote away from making it permanently impossible for people in the war zone that is our nation's capital to protect themselves with a handgun. And look who voted on the side of giant corporations in Kelo v. new london, where they allowed the government to take someone's land and give it to a giant pharmaceutical company. It was the "liberals." People need to look past Roe v. Wade and realize how much a "liberal" supreme court is screwing things up. Ending Roe v. Wade would simply allow states to regulate abortion. In other words, democracy, rather than judicial dictatorship. What a novel idea.

Let's get rid of all of them and appoint new judges that has no political agendas. This is a mess if anything it should been 9 to 0 vote. Not that I love guns I truely believe that the 2nd amendment is right.

Choose wisely America. No McCain!!!!

yes, Scott ,Charlote WE DO. Judges decide the law not make law as they please. The 2nd Amendment is there for a reason. and the Judges on this court made that decision on what the founding father's had in mind. :The People have the right to own and bear arms. Try reading it for once, before you comment. It is about time the court decided on law and no popular opinion or whatever suits the Socialists/liberals in America.

Let's see - Guns and child rape!! Meanwhile let us insure the TERRORISTS are treated in a long judicious manner!!
It speaks volumes of judges who live in a black robed fantasy existence and have little understanding of life on your streets or the need to update a Constitution amendment that is out of touch with modern day reality!! God SAVE America!!

It makes me sick to think that some of you people are allowed to vote for the president when you truly have no idea what you're talking about.

The most intelligent of us all can admit that they know nothing. Don't make yourselves look dumber by typing nonsense drivel.

Some of these comments make my head hurt. You people really just blindly follow whatever Obama tells you. If he criticizes McCain, he must be right! (sarcasm)

And the people crying about the gun decision need to wake up and realize that criminals would have guns regardless of a gun ban or not.

Also, the Supreme Court justices just vote along their own liberal or conservative belief lines almost 100% of the time. How is Obama going to make it more fair? We have 4 conservatives, 4 liberals, and 1 moderate. I would say that's pretty fair.

It is our right as Americans to arm ourselves with guns if that is the choice. Tell Americans they can not have guns then only the law abiding people will be without; and the crimminals will be the only ones with guns. I think that is wrong.

The beauty of our country is if you choose not to have a gun - that is your choice. God Bless America!

I agree with Senator Obama. John McSain & Ralp Nader just need to quit whinning. Anything in the wrong hands is dangerous. I agree with Lisa maybe we should ban cars, knives, ropes. If we ban cars then we would not need the Saudi's oil. Good thought Lisa.

Does anyone else find it ironic that the very same group of people who are complaining about government corruption and oppression are trying to do away with the very rights that could rid us of that corruption and oppression, if need be?

Just so you all know, ANWR isn't worth drilling because there's only 4 months worth of oil up there anyway…

So it's judicial activism when a court strikes down a law for being unconstitutional, unless it's the second amendment?

I think I agree with the court's decision, but the right wing is not really following their own principles.

Uh Oh - I forgot - it's now "McCNN".

Don't do it Blitzer - just don't even do it. We are sick of him too. He's boring and can't even read 5 days a week.

Exactly… It's people that kill!!!!!

You can take back an insult.
You can uncurl a fist.
You can retract a switchblade.

You can't "unsqueeze" a trigger.

If responsible gun owners are truly "responsible," why then are our newspapers filled with stories about law abiding citizens dying each day as a result of handgun violence? If guns are so instrumental in protecting lives, as the NRA claims, wouldn't the stories be inverted–countless, heroic tales about law-abiding citizens gunning down villains?

Way to go Blitzer - baby-steps. One article without shoving HRC down our throats. Maybe if you practice a lot you'll get used to it.

Ya think?

All of you Hillary and McCain Women supporters you should take heed to this article. Especially those with children and is child bearing age!

A vote for mccain, a write in for hillary or stay at home and not vote, is the vote for your family's future

We already lost our eminent domain to commercial businesses. I hope we don't lose anymore of our constitutional rights. Although a band on semiautomatic guns would be nice, esppecially for the police. I think I like more liberal judges and Sen. Hillary Clinton would make a good one.

At last a Supreme Court that isn't packed with constitutional revionists. It's ironic that the cities with the most stringent gun laws are the one with the highest murder rates. Now, if God forbid, the liberal demos take over in Jan. 09 they will try to muster enought votes to repeal the 2nd amendment. Standby to standby!

Thank you Bill. That's the only non-recycled thought in this thread.

Re: some of the comments above: sure knives and cars can kill people, but they have alternative uses. The sole purpose of guns is to kill.

I don't mind people having the right to bear arms, but there are limits to all rights, which many don't seem to understand.

Please vote McCain, people–cost of living will be better as they should be allowed to drill here and drill now –same as all the other countries. I am also pleased that I can keep my gun collection and go to church without being bitter. We really do not know when and on what issues Obama will change his mind on.

Kennedy is the only true judge we currently have. Judges arent supposed to be liberal or conservative, they are supposed to be fair. Any court in any land that is always 4 vs 4 with one person bouncing back and forth does not serve justice. I have to say it but there is a major division in this country and the press the election is getting is only working to drive it deeper. Too bad money controls everything and a good canidate that would truly do what is best for the people can never be elected because big money wont let them.

People need to protect themselves with guns from criminal home intruders. People should have a right to defend themselves.

Lisa…..I'm sure you can come up with a better argument than that.

It is people that kill.

Overturning Roe v. Wade is the first step. I'll also keep my 2nd Amendment rights thank you very much. If we elect this boy, who knows what crazy left-wing nut jobs he'll nominate to the Court. More than any other reason lets say NO to Dr. No.

I'm all for Constitutional rights, but the right to bear arms was relevant when there was not adequate protection in place for Americans. It made sense back then. It doesn't make as much sense now. We now have police and other forms of protection.

I am not saying guns should be illegal…but there should definitely be rules and limits. The safety of our communities is too important to allow anyone who wants one to go out and buy a handgun. We need LESS guns on the market, not more.

Obama Supporter from FL June 26th, 2008 4:24 pm ET

So do knives, Lisa. Should we outlaw those? Cars kill too - are those off the list? What about rope? Someone could hang themselves or another person with rope…
___________________________________

Knives, cars and rope aren't made for the sole purpose of killing. Guns are.

So how are we suppose to win this "war on crime" and "this war on drugs" and the new "war on terror" if we keep arming the criminals? So let me get this straight, America which has the highest crime and incarceration rate in the world is still wondering how other countries with lower crime rates and smaller prison populations do it? Somehow, the right to bear arms seems a little out of context from when it was first written.

bailey
North Carolina

You Hillary supporters who say you're going to vote for McCain out of spite better think long and hard about the consequences of doing that.

This is a deciding factor alone in this election.

We cannot afford to have the most liberal Senator picking the next couple LIFETIME appointments of the Supreme Court!

We may as well kiss this country goodbye!

Let's see. Should I vote for someone who might appoint a conservative judge or someone who is friends with terrorists? Hmm.

Ned to get the other liberals to retire off the bench. McCain08

THE SUPRIME COURT HAS MADE THE RIGHT DECISION.

IF GUNS WERE OUTLAWED ONLY THE OUTLAWS WOULD HAVE GUNS.

I want equal pay for equal work in all 50 states. Women, we will not achieve that during a McCain administration.and McCain loaded Supreme Court.

All of this madness in our economy is happening under W's watch. We do not need a third W term. Let us stop the madness,

Obama 2008 and 20012

Lisa…guns don't kill anymore than cars kill. IDIOTS kill in both cases! Thats just what this debate needs…more drama instead of common sense discussions.

yes GUNS KILL

The word "arms" does not directly translate to "handguns."

Handguns did not exist upon the creation of the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

I'm about as "liberal" as they come on some issues. I'm also very conservative on others. Like Obama, I think these labels actually mean very little as a practical matter. For the most part, I have disagreed with just about every position Scalia has taken on pretty much any issue. Until today. The majority's decision was the right one although I frankly think they could have, and should have, gone even further in protecting the right of individuals to own and possess firearms. The dissents made no real sense at all.

I am happy that Obama seems to understand that the constitution should mean what it says. Even in DC. Restricting the right of people to possess handguns in their homes is ridiculous. I wish the so-called "liberal" justices would have recognized that fact and not tried to justify a stupid law.

Independent,

That is quite presumptuous of you to say, last time I checked the election isn't until November.

And leave it to a liberal to cling to the phrase "do what he says." I guess it's the mindless, socialist mentality.

Wow - Obama likes the liberal judges and McCain likes the conservative ones. What a day! Next CNN will be the first to break the news that the sky is blue! Holy Cow!

Something all the Clintonites need to remember before suggesting they vote for McCain. Do you want a MORE Conservative court ?

We can thank Ralph Nader's 2000 spoiler Presidency run for the state of the courts today. That's the difference between Al Gore and G. Bush becoming president.

In addition to the blood of 4,100 US soldiers spilled in Iraq over 5 years, we can add the blood of more than 10,000 US citizens EVERY YEAR from senseless gun violence.

If we didn't have an Alito and a Roberts on the court, we wouldn't have so many lives being snuffed out prematurely.

We need Barack Obama as president

Marc PDX, I agree.

I like how Obama criticizes McCain for wanting to drill because it won't affect prices for at least 10 years, but then all of his ideas are genius because they help out "the next generation." So exactly how long will his ideas take to be realized? I don't see all of America ditching their gasoline engines anytime soon.

Unfortunately, on both the gun control case and the child rape-execution case, Obama's comments were sympathetic to the Scalia-Thomas side of the Court, and opposed to the Ginsburg-Breyer progressive wing. What kind of Justices would a Pres. Obama appoint? Given his statements on these two cases, I don't think we really know.

I agree with Sen. Obama. Guns are fine…it's people like MARK PDX with guns that I worry about. Too many reckless people, and very uneducated people are obtaining these weapons. There seems to be TOO much leniency on the Republican side……………….Dick Chaney…….

Obama '08

So…

…. Americans don't mind it when your government taps your phones, reads your mail, goes through your bank accounts and data-mines your computer….

… but you can't live without your guns.

Interesting nation you live in!

Lisa……………….. Guns Kill!!………..FOR REAL!!!!!!

Justice Anthony Kennedy in all reality is the kind of judge who should be on the supreme court. He bases his decisions on the constitution and not a political agenda. I am a democrat and a barack supporter and hope that Justices like Anthony Kennedy are put on the supreme court.

Once Barack is president, Nino and Silent Clarence are gonna be pretty lonely…

MCCAIN WILL TAKE AWAY WOMANS RIGHTS DO YOU KNOW HE OPPOSED BIRTH CONTROL TO BE COVERED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES AND AS FAR AS DRILLING FOR OIL THATS LONG TERM RELIF WE NEED SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM IF YOU THINK DRILLING IS GOING TO LOWER PRICES YOUR MISTAKEN SADLY MISTAKEN!!

Resisting government oppression is funniest and weakest arguement for the right to bear arms.

Maybe we need to the right to bear tanks, and anti-aircraft in the constitution too.

What if I need to fight some serious oppression????

Who gets to decide what a liberal view is and what a conservative view is? I think these 2 words are way overused. Am I to believe that every concept we can comprehend will neatly fall into one of these 2 categories? It's a bit more complex than that.

This should have been a "no brainer" .

All of the rest of the amendments refer to "people".

The "people" then, as they do today, make up the militia.

The National Guard didn't come into existence until 1917 and the 2nd amendment was ratified in 1798.

Marc PDX you need an education. You probably think its okay to cut yourself as long as you use a bandaide too. We have the technology to not use oil at all, or to barely use oil. Your boy McCain just doesn't care to tell you this, or maybe he really is as dumb as he looks.

That's why we need to get Barack in the white house to tip the balance to fair.

You should say this louder!

So do knives, Lisa. Should we outlaw those? Cars kill too - are those off the list? What about rope? Someone could hang themselves or another person with rope…

Things - like guns or knives - are only dangerous in the hands of dangerous people.

Lisa, criminals kill, if they have a gun or not. And chances are, they don't care about silly gun bans eLaw abiding citizens have a right to defend themselves, as we don't live in a 'Minority Report" style of world where criminals are arrested before a crime is committed.

For the first time in my adult life guns should be illegal.

SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS….FULL STOP

Guns Kill!!

barack knows about judgeicial stuff,so,do what he says!he's the president.

Let's see: "We can't drill our way out of our energy problem" is a popular rallying cry of the Dems when talking about drilling in ANWR or the outer continental shelf of the US (hint: that's not within sight of Miami Beach).

Well, maybe we won't ever reduce oil prices - I agree. BUT we could stave off the rocketing price and keep it within the current range rather than go up, up, up. Wouldn't $4/gallon be preferrable to $6/gallon? Or worse? What if supplied in the Middle East or Africa are further disrupted? (Note: disruptions in those two places are cited by CNN today as the reason oil went up to $140/barrel for the first time today.)

If we don't make moves now to take care of ourselves we are going to be in really deep yogurt in just a few more years. Dems better think hard and long about this right now. Because how we deal with this now (or don't deal with it) will have an impact on America in many ways for years to come. (Hint #2: the stock market falls when oil goes up; food prices and practically all goods go up when oil goes up; etc. etc. - it's all interconnected). So choose well - your and your children's future will be directed by your decision now. Good luck!

NObama N'08

Yet another reason why Obama should be president. I'd rather keep Roe v Wade, thank you very much.