Carry on, gun owners: Second Amendment rulings.

• Author: Doherty, Brian
• Position: Citings - Brief article

SINCE 2008 the Supreme Court has twice ruled that Americans have an individual right to possess commonly used weapons for self-defense in the home--a right that must be honored by all levels of government. But what sort of rights does the Court think gun owners have when they step outside with their weapons?

We may be about to find out. In late 2012, a pair of federal appeals courts came to different conclusions about how the Second Amendment applies to government restrictions on carrying weapons, making it likely that the Supreme Court will soon take up the question.

In Kachalsky v. Cacace, decided in November 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit upheld New York state's rules restricting carry permits to those who show "proper cause" to a local official. The Supreme Court was asked to reconsider that case in January, though they have yet to officially take it up.

In Moore v. Madigan, decided December 2012, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit overturned an Illinois law that effectively prohibits civilians from carrying...