The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, has struck down the District of Columbia’s 32-year-old handgun ban, saying it is incompatible with rights called for under the Second Amendment. In writing for the majority, Justice Antonin Scalia said the Constitution does not permit “the absolute prohibition of handguns held and used for self-defense in the home.” The ruling marked the first time the court has conclusively interpreted the Second Amendment since it was ratified in 1791. D.C’s handgun ban was one of the country’s strictest. You can read the entire decision here.

UPDATE—CANDIDATE REACTION:

John McCain: “Unlike the elitist view that believes Americans cling to guns out of bitterness, today’s ruling recognizes that gun ownership is a fundamental right — sacred, just as the right to free speech and assembly.”

Barack Obama: “I have always believed that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to bear arms, but I also identify with the need for crime-ravaged communities to save their children from the violence that plagues our streets through common-sense, effective safety measures.”

Bob Barr: “Today’s decision marks a new era for gun rights in America. … By protecting an individual’s right to keep and bear arms, the Second Amendment ensures that all Americans are able to participate in sporting activities, hunt, and protect themselves and their families.”

The state of West Virginia is weighing a measure that would allow seventh- through ninth-graders the option of learning in school how to handle a gun and hunt safely. Supporters of the bill hope it will boost interest in hunting, thereby increasing state revenues from hunting licenses, which have declined in recent years. Although the instruction would be supervised and students would be using disabled weapons, is this the sort of thing schools should be incorporating into their curriculum?

John R. Lott Jr. says, “With hunting season starting in various parts of the country, it may be time to acknowledge what vegetarians, as well as hunted animals, owe to hunters.”  His argument: Hunted animals, if not lying around being dead, would otherwise be eating all the vegetables of the world.  Anyone with a crotchety old grandfather who hunted deer from the edge of his garden (to keep them out of his corn and into his belly), knows what I’m talking about.  If you need a refresher about the utilitarian benefits of hunting, you might enjoy his article.  If, like me, you are familiar with these benefits, you might instead enjoy opening your deep freeze to feast on the fleshy bounty of creation.