October Term 2007 · Docket 07-290
Does the Second Amendment protect individual gun ownership?
The dispute centers on whether the Second Amendment grants individuals a personal right to own firearms or only protects collective militia service.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Walter Dellinger argued the Amendment responded to fears about federal control of state militias.
Paul Clement argued the text guarantees an individual right independent of militia service.
Chief Justice Roberts noted that acknowledging an individual right shifts the focus to the reasonableness of regulations.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-37 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the Second Amendment. One side argues it protects individual self-defense. The other side argues it protects only organized militia service.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 3-17
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 18, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-49
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to uphold the local ban on handgun possession.
The individual wants the Court to strike down the local ban on handgun possession.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 3-17
What each side says
The government argues the Amendment protects only the right to serve in a state militia.
The individual argues the Amendment protects a personal right to keep firearms for self-defense.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 3-17
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked why the text says the right of the people if it only applies to militias.
Justice Scalia asked how a personal guarantee and a militia assurance can coexist without contradiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-37 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
Why it matters
This case defines whether citizens can keep guns for personal safety. It determines the balance between individual liberty and public safety laws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 3-17
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-37 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 3-17
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.