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Nothing in Heller today
Court announced six or seven ops this morning, leaving ten to go. Next opinion day is Monday. Court is considered likely to add on an extra opinion day -- ten in one day is more than it likes to issue.
Of cases argued in Feb. two remain, and of March, two, incl. Heller. As often is the case, they save the controversial ones for last (one Feb. case is the punitive damages in Exxon-Valdez oil spill, and for March there's Heller). I suppose with the controversial ones, there's a lot of internal negotiation, additions to opinions to answer the opposing opinions, and stress on getting it nearly perfect.
The Court CAN put over a ruling until its next Term (October) but I think it's a very rare event.
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And the riots?
A number of professional court watchers have opined that they will postpone the decision to the next term because a decision this crucial, and this precedent setting, is itself a rare event, one for the history books.
They want to get it right, every jot and tittle, and it seems reasonable that they'd take their time reviewing all the briefs, double checking the original sources, and nailing down every footnote.
Of course, all they really have to say is, "'The right of the people', you idiots, 'shall not be infringed'. Affirmed. Now if you'll excuse us, we're off to the range.", but it's my understanding the Justices are rarely that concise.
if the Court makes the "right" ruling on Heller, are there stores in DC that can sell pistols to residents? Or are they still out of luck with no source. (Assuming they can cross the border for rifles/shotguns, but no pistols.)
Or perhaps they are still struggling for enough references to dispute the 47 well written pro-Heller Amicus Briefs so that they can find against the individual right of the 2nd amendment. That may take awhile too.
From what I've read, Justice Roberts likes to get large majorities and is willing to negotiate to get them.
It's hard to imagine an anti-individual group ruling ... but lots of things happen that I have trouble imagining.
"are there stores in DC that can sell pistols to residents?"
No, not currently.
And DC has already refused to grant a business license to a current FFL holder who is trying to open a retail store. The FFL holder in question currently services police officers and security companies by appointment only.
The Washington City Paper spoke with the guy for the May 7 2008 article "Jumping the Gun"
"http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=35551"
you think they'd do that with the election?