Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Justices living in a bubble

As America endures the aftermath of yet another mass shooting, it seems appropriate to recall the wisdom of Justice Clarence Thomas in a case ironically involving Highland Park, Ill., and assault weapons.

In Arie S. Friedman, et al vs. City of Highland Park, decided Dec. 7, 2015, Thomas in a dissenting opinion, with Justice Samuel Alito concurring, wrote that “the Second Amendment protects a personal right to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes, most notably for self-defense within the home.

“The overwhelming majority of citizens who own and use such rifles do so for lawful purposes, including self-defense and target shooting.”

Applying the phrase “overwhelming majority” to the actual numbers reveals a frightening reality that shows the judges appear to be living in a bubble.

There are over 20 million AR-15s privately owned in America. Assuming Thomas was correct about that overwhelming majority, let’s say 99.99% ofthose guns are used lawfully.

In real-life terms, what does this leave us with?

A hundredth of a percent of 20 million is 20,000.

When the court blithely hides behind the term “overwhelming majority,” it accepts that at least 20,000 AR-15-carrying nutcases do not bear arms for lawful purposes.

The court, in its insulated world, accepts that at least 20,000 miscreants on the loose with lethal weapons is a reasonable trade-off to allow the National Rifle Association to have target practice and hunt deer.

These 20,000 are hunting people. Thomas and Alito are OK with that?