Two pro-gun rights senators are wading into a lawsuit pending before
the Supreme Court that could further expand the Second Amendment and
restrict governments’ ability to police the flow of firearms.

Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) are joining Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.) in filing a joint amicus brief before the Supreme Court — repeating an effort they first made last year in the District of Columbia’s gun-rights case.

{mosads}The lawmakers say they plan to ask justices to apply the Second Amendment more forcibly to states, siding with the National Rifle Association in seeking to overturn the city of Chicago’s handgun registration laws.

The Supreme Court last year already struck down the D.C. gun ban by rullng that the Second Amendment guaranteed a fundamental right to keep and bear arms. The Court last week agreed to hear the Chicago case during its fall term.

“With its landmark decision in D.C. v. Heller, the Supreme Court affirmed an individual’s right to bear arms is a fundamental, Constitutionally-guaranteed liberty,” said Hutchison. “The Second Amendment should protect all lawful gun owners, but some courts have not viewed this right as one protected from state infringement. I look forward to the Supreme Court’s consideration of McDonald v. the City of Chicago so this extremely important Constitutional question regarding a fundamental, individual right can be settled, once and for all.”
 
“The Second Amendment guarantees gun rights for all law-abiding Americans, no matter where they live,” said Tester, vice chairman of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus. “I’m glad Republicans and Democrats are working together to tell the Supreme Court we expect it to stand up for our gun rights in this important case.”