WASHINGTON   –  U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) applauded a U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier today that affirms the Second Amendment rights of Americans to keep and bear arms.

“There is a clear constitutional line that some cities and states have crossed by prohibiting citizens from lawfully buying and keeping firearms.  Often, these laws do little more than take guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens while criminals ignore the rules,” Emerson said.  “This is a positive decision for Second Amendment advocates, and I am very glad to see the Court make a strong statement in support of gun ownership in all 50 states.”

In a previous ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court had said the District of Columbia law making the possession of arms illegal was not constitutional.