Brady Campaign Praises Sotomayor's History of Gun Control

By Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

The nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court appears to be a positive one for those committed to reducing gun violence in this country. Judge Sotomayor’s legal opinions have shown a strong respect for precedent in upholding federal and state gun laws, while her background and experience promise to bring a real world, personal understanding of the effects of gun violence that will be welcome on our nation’s highest Court.

Respect for precedent and understanding the importance of strong gun laws in the real world will be especially important as the Supreme Court is likely to face gun lobby efforts to expand the Court’s recent Second Amendment ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller into an unbridled right to any gun, any place, any time. Her experience prosecuting perpetrators of gun crimes in New York City added to her appreciation for the real-world life and death consequences of any efforts to roll back gun laws that protect all Americans.

As a judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, Judge Sotomayor has shown a respect for precedent that has narrowly interpreted the Second Amendment, a far contrast to the activist majority in the Heller case, which sidestepped seventy year old precedent in finding a new individual right to have handguns in the home. Judge Sotomayor has consistently rejected challenges to gun laws that protect our communities from gun violence.

Based on her background, her experience, and her strong record of upholding lifesaving gun laws, we are pleased with Judge Sotomayor’s nomination to the Supreme Court and look forward to hearing and evaluating her testimony during her Senate confirmation hearings.