July 14, 2009
Posted: July 14th, 2009 10:14 AM ET
Sonia Sotomayor said Tuesday that she 'understand(s) fully' the second amendment.
Sonia Sotomayor said Tuesday that she 'understand(s) fully' the second amendment.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Judge Sonia Sotomayor said Tuesday that she recognizes an individual right to bear arms as recently identified by the U.S. Supreme Court.

"I have friends who hunt" and "understand fully" the Second Amendment right identified in the ruling District of Columbia v. Heller, she said.

The recent Supreme Court 5-4 ruling concluded that a sweeping handgun ban in the nation's capital violated Americans' constitutional right to "keep and bear arms."

Filed under: Sonia Sotomayor • Supreme Court


Dutch/Bad Newz, VA   July 14th, 2009 12:18 pm ET

Let's ask Cheney what he thinks about the second amendment. After shooting his buddy in the face, there needs to be stricter laws on guns. Whether your a sportsman or not. Let's not forget about the Va Tech incident and how he went about getting his guns.

Kate in San Diego   July 14th, 2009 12:06 pm ET

I am a lawyer – and it is disheartening to see that our senators up there on the judiciary committee seem to have no clue how the system works. They obviously don't understand the difference between the trial courts and the appellate courts and do not appreciate the two systems operate differently. I cannot believe Jeff Sessions ever practiced law based on some of the statements he made. I've seen rookie attorneys do a better job at cross examination. Has everyone forgotten their civics classes? Additionally, Russ Feingold called it when he said that "judicial activism" is when a judge makes a ruling you don 't like.

ADF Alliance Alert » The Sotomayor Confirmation Hearings   July 14th, 2009 12:04 pm ET

[...] CNN Political Ticker: "Sotomayor says she recognizes individual right to bear arms" [...]

Sniffit   July 14th, 2009 11:58 am ET

ouch...one less thing to get teh pseudo-militia angry about, eh GOPers? oh well, you can still continue to drum up funding by crying about Roe v Wade...

history repeats   July 14th, 2009 11:55 am ET

let me ask you something america: the constitution was written a few hundred years ago in a completely different era. should we act as though it was written by god himself or should we EVER understand that we have to adapt and evolve to the changing times? the constitution was revolutionary and written with new rules for the time. why are we going to stick to the script? are we now a nation of followers? YES WE ARE!!! the same people that NEED their guns are the same that LOOOOVE JESUS. why do you need so much protection if everything is part of gods plan? if you die you go to heaven right? or do you not believe it yourself?

elliott   July 14th, 2009 11:50 am ET

Probably the ONLY thing I agree with her about.....

Scott, Tucson   July 14th, 2009 11:48 am ET

Than does she believes as she does with abortion, that the second amendment and the rights to own guns is settled law?

southerncousin   July 14th, 2009 11:47 am ET

Right. Compare that with her non-testifying comments. It figures she would like Obama if he was appointing her.

FLP   July 14th, 2009 11:46 am ET

Don't believe a word out of this hypocrites mouth. She has been so coached on what to say, since she has already proven when she speaks her mind it is so biased!

good, because it is in the constitution   July 14th, 2009 11:41 am ET

I am not a NRA fan, but it is in the constitution

Randolph Carter   July 14th, 2009 11:38 am ET

CNN, a suggestion: Why have 4 stories breaking down the confirmation hearing into sections, when you could have 1 story which is continuously updated and commented upon? You guys always seem to make it more complicated than it needs to be. Have a nice day!

UNHAPPY DEM   July 14th, 2009 11:37 am ET

Hope, she is telling the truth about gun control. Dictators love unarmed peasants.

Kelby In Houston, TX   July 14th, 2009 11:37 am ET

The right to bear arms has absolutely nothing to do with hunting and everything to do with people who feel a need to have a device that can end people's lives in their posession

Mike R   July 14th, 2009 11:34 am ET

The second amendment reads:

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

As long as the Supreme Court continues to ignore the first line of the amendment we will continue to have gun problems in this country. The amendment establishes a responsibility to protect this country as part of a militia in order to exercise the right to bear arms. With no responsibility comes lawlessness. That is the reason we have problems today. Eiher enforce the responsibility or get rid of the guns.

Wyatt   July 14th, 2009 11:33 am ET

Why do politicians always reference the "right to hunt" in defense of the "right to bear arms?" That right is extended to ALL citizens and not just those who hunt. It is a safeguard against tyranny. Get it right please. It's also funny that now she is for what she was against. Did she come to this conclusion by consulting her feelings? Typical liberal dribble. Tell them what they want to here until you reach your goal of confirmation.

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