Court Decisions Voiding Restrictive Or Prohibitive Arms Laws

THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS:
COURT DECISIONS VOIDING RESTRICTIVE OR PROHIBITIVE ARMS LAWS

Courts have held on at least 20 reported occasions that a restrictive or prohibitive arms law was unconstitutional because it impermissibly infringed the individual right to keep and bear arms.

State ex rel. City of Princeton v. Buckner,
180 W.Va. 457, 377 S.E.2d 139 (1988)
Struck down a gun carrying law as too restrictive

Barnett v. State,
72 Or. App. 585, 695 P. 2d 991 (1985)
Struck down prohibition of possession of a black jack

State v. Deloado,
298 Or. 395, 692 P. 2d 610 (1984)
Struck down prohibition of possession of a switchblade

State v. Blocker,
291 Or. 255, 630 P.2d 824 (1981)
Struck down prohibition of carrying a club

State v. Kessler,
289 Or. 359, 614 P. 2d 94 (1980)
Struck down prohibition of possession of a club

City of Lakewood v. Pillow,
180 Colo. 20, 501 P.2d 744 (1972)(en banc)
Struck down gun law on sale, possession and carrying as too restrictive

City of Las Vegas v. Moberg,
82 N.M. 626, 485 P. 2d 737 (Ct. App. 1971)
Struck down restrictive gun carrying law

People v. Nakamura,
99 Colo. 262, 62 P.2d 246 (1936)(en banc)
Struck down prohibitive firearms possession law

Glasscock v. City of Chattanooga,
157 Tenn. 518, 11 S.W. 2d 678 (1928)
Struck down gun carrying law as too restrictive

People v. Zerillo,
219 Mich. 635, 189 N.W. 927 (1922)
Struck down restrictive pistol possession law

State v. Kerner,
181 N.C. 574, 107 S.E. 222 (1921)
Struck down pistol carrying license and bond requirement as too restrictive

In re Reilly,
31 Ohio Dec. 364 (C.P. 1919)
Struck down law forbidding hiring armed security guards

State v. Rosenthal,
75 Vt. 295, 55 A 610 (1903)
Struck down pistol carrying ordinance as too restrictive

In re Brickey,
8 Idaho 587, 70 P. 609 (1902)
Struck down pistol carrying law as too restrictive

Jennings v. State,
5 Tex. App. 298 (1878)
Struck down law requiring forfeiture of pistol after misdemeanor conviction as unconstitutional

Wilson v. State,
33 Ark. 557, 34 Am. Rep. 52 (1878)
Struck down pistol carrying law as too restrictive

Andrews v. State,
50 Tenn. (3 Heisk.) 165, 8 Am. Rep. 8 (1871)
Struck down pistol carrying law as too restrictive

Smith v. Ishenhour,
43 Term. (3 Cold.) 214 (1866)
Struck down gun confiscation law as unconstitutional

Nunn v. State,
1 Ga. (1 Kelly) 243 (1846)
Struck down pistol carrying law as too restrictive

Bliss v. Commonwealth,
12 Ky. (2 Litt.) 90, 13 Am. Dec. 251 (1822)
Struck down concealed carrying law involving a sword in a cane as unconstitutional