--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: District of Columbia v. Heller, which…" description: "\"District of Columbia v. Heller, which recognized an individual right to possess a firearm under the Constitution, is unquestionably the most clearly in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/john-paul-stevens-12128_amendment_district-of-columbia-v-heller-which-reco_476791.jpg" --- # District of Columbia v. Heller, which recognized an… ![“District of Columbia v. Heller, which recognized an individual right to possess a firearm under the Constitution, is unquestionably the most clearly incorrect decision that the Supreme Court announced during my tenure on the bench.” quote by John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/john-paul-stevens-12128_amendment_district-of-columbia-v-heller-which-reco_476791.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/john-paul-stevens-12128_amendment_district-of-columbia-v-heller-which-reco_476791.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bce/john-paul-stevens-12128_amendment_district-of-columbia-v-heller-which-reco_476791.jpg) > “District of Columbia v. Heller, which recognized an individual right to possess a firearm under the Constitution, is unquestionably the most clearly incorrect decision that the Supreme Court announced during my tenure on the bench.” [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He believes the decision incorrectly expanded gun rights beyond the Constitution. **In simple terms:** Decision wrongly broadened individual gun ownership rights. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate constitutional interpretations. Themes law constitution gun rights judicial review Mood serious analytical Type legal philosophical When to use this quote - legal education - policy debates - advocacy work Key Concepts originalism interpretive limits Questions to Reflect On - How should courts balance historical intent with modern realities? - What criteria should limit gun ownership? A Different Perspective Balancing public safety with constitutional rights is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Clearly Incorrect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clearly-incorrect-4107983/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitution Unquestionably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution-unquestionably-4107981/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Firearm Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firearm-constitution-4107984/) [Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heller-350450/) [Incorrect Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incorrect-decision-4107982/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) ## Related quotes > [Let me tell you, if you're ever making a decision and the principle reason you'll do it is because of money, then it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/let-me-tell-you-if-you-re-ever-making-a-decision-and-the-principle/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [I thought 'Heller' was a very bad decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-bader-ginsburg/i-thought-heller-was-a-very-bad-decision/) [Ruth Bader Ginsburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-bader-ginsburg/) > [“Joseph Heller knew how the need to belong, and the need for security, can make people accept lethal and stupid conditions, and then act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-hitchens/joseph-heller-knew-how-the-need-to-belong-and-the-need-for-security/) [Christopher Hitchens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-hitchens/) > [I disagreed with the way the court applied the Second Amendment in Heller's case, because what the District of Columbia was trying to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-disagreed-with-the-way-the-court-applied-the-second-amendment-in/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [“Catch-22 has much passion, comic and fervent, but it gasps for want of craft and sensibility… Its author, Joseph Heller, is like a brilliant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-stern/catch-22-has-much-passion-comic-and-fervent-but-it-gasps-for-want-of/) [Richard G. Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-stern/) > [“And another nice thing about war—not that anything about war is nice, I guess—is that while it’s going on and you’re in it, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/and-another-nice-thing-about-war-not-that-anything-about-war-is-nice/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“We drove in silence for a while. “Can I have a gun?” I asked. “No!” “Just a little one? For my handbag? It’ll give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-nixon/we-drove-in-silence-for-a-while-can-i-have-a-gun-i-asked-no-just-a/) [j d nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-nixon/) > [“When John-Joseph Heller's fights became too much of a sure thing, story has it he moved on to more risky fights with grown men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-barrus/when-john-joseph-heller-s-fights-became-too-much-of-a-sure-thing/) [S.C. Barrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-barrus/) > [“I went at one stage to turn on the radio, but he glared at me so ferociously that I hurriedly lean't back in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-nixon/i-went-at-one-stage-to-turn-on-the-radio-but-he-glared-at-me-so/) [j d nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-nixon/) > [“Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you. - Joseph Heller”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blake-crouch/just-because-you-re-paranoid-doesn-t-mean-they-aren-t-after-you/) [Blake Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blake-crouch/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [Gun control laws don't work. What is worse, they act perversely. While legitimate users of firearms encounter intense regulation, scrutiny and bureaucratic control, illicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-polsby/gun-control-laws-don-t-work-what-is-worse-they-act-perversely-while/) [Daniel D. Polsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-polsby/) > [If you reduce the guns and the ammo, you'll reduce the murders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/if-you-reduce-the-guns-and-the-ammo-you-ll-reduce-the-murders/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [“Let's just make this easy. I'm in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would read something like this: 'Neither the federal government, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/let-s-just-make-this-easy-i-m-in-favor-of-a-constitutional-amendment/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [There are a lot of people who want to retain the Eighth Amendment - I don't agree with that view myself - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-want-to-retain-the-eighth-amendment-i/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) ## More by John Paul Stevens > [When the commission finds that a pig has entered the parlor, the exercise of its regulatory power does not depend on proof that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/when-the-commission-finds-that-a-pig-has-entered-the-parlor-the/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [The practice of executing such offenders is a relic of the past and is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency in a civilized society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/the-practice-of-executing-such-offenders-is-a-relic-of-the-past-and/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [It is not our job to apply laws that have not yet been written.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/it-is-not-our-job-to-apply-laws-that-have-not-yet-been-written/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [As a matter of constitutional tradition, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, we presume that governmental regulation of the content of speech…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/as-a-matter-of-constitutional-tradition-in-the-absence-of-evidence-to/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [I announced my dissent in the Citizens United orally, and I stumbled in my announcement. I had a little difficulty expressing myself. And that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/i-announced-my-dissent-in-the-citizens-united-orally-and-i-stumbled/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [Public officials, including state legislators, have a duty to act impartially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/public-officials-including-state-legislators-have-a-duty-to-act/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [After all, a district judge who gives harsh sentences to Yankees fans and lenient sentences to Red Sox fans would not be acting reasonably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/after-all-a-district-judge-who-gives-harsh-sentences-to-yankees-fans/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [All I can say is I did the best I could, and I didn't do well enough on many occasions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/all-i-can-say-is-i-did-the-best-i-could-and-i-didn-t-do-well-enough/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [It almost seems I was writing two separate books, the first one about the time before I went on the court and the second…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/it-almost-seems-i-was-writing-two-separate-books-the-first-one-about/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [One thing, however, is certain. Although we may never know with complete certainty the identity of the winner of this year's presidential election, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/one-thing-however-is-certain-although-we-may-never-know-with-complete/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [I'm a person who plays Ping-Pong once in a while.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/i-m-a-person-who-plays-ping-pong-once-in-a-while/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/anonymity-is-a-shield-from-the-tyranny-of-the-majority/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [I think maybe the people in elected positions are more interested in preserving their jobs than in doing the best job possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/i-think-maybe-the-people-in-elected-positions-are-more-interested-in/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [When I joined the Supreme Court in 1975, both state and federal judges accepted the Court's unanimous decision in United States v. Miller as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/when-i-joined-the-supreme-court-in-1975-both-state-and-federal-judges/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [Just as the right to speak and the right to refrain from speaking are complementary components of a broader concept of individual freedom, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/just-as-the-right-to-speak-and-the-right-to-refrain-from-speaking-are/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) [Explore all 56 John Paul Stevens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) ## More Amendment quotes > [There are a lot of people who want to retain the Eighth Amendment - I don't agree with that view myself - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-want-to-retain-the-eighth-amendment-i/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [“Let's just make this easy. I'm in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would read something like this: 'Neither the federal government, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-boortz/let-s-just-make-this-easy-i-m-in-favor-of-a-constitutional-amendment/) [Neal Boortz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-boortz/) > [If you reduce the guns and the ammo, you'll reduce the murders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-moore/if-you-reduce-the-guns-and-the-ammo-you-ll-reduce-the-murders/) [Michael Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-moore/) > [Gun control laws don't work. What is worse, they act perversely. While legitimate users of firearms encounter intense regulation, scrutiny and bureaucratic control, illicit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-d-polsby/gun-control-laws-don-t-work-what-is-worse-they-act-perversely-while/) [Daniel D. Polsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-polsby/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Guns aren't the problem; sick people are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/guns-aren-t-the-problem-sick-people-are/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I don't think anybody who carries a rifle carries the future. Because I don't believe that you can really change the world by killing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/i-don-t-think-anybody-who-carries-a-rifle-carries-the-future-because/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [“my folks wouldn't read a book if you put a gun to their dicks. but they read people all day long and always get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/my-folks-wouldn-t-read-a-book-if-you-put-a-gun-to-their-dicks-but/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [Anybody who pretends that how you read the 10th and 11th Amendment doesn't have a fundamental impact on the things we care about is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/anybody-who-pretends-that-how-you-read-the-10th-and-11th-amendment/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Country lyrics often reference the NRA and firearms ownership as a way of life. Artists such as John Rich, Toby Keith, Sara Evans and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-pavlich/country-lyrics-often-reference-the-nra-and-firearms-ownership-as-a/) [Katie Pavlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-pavlich/) > [“People who have attended Concealed Carry classes, and those already licensed, typically seem to demonstrate a higher degree of courtesy, responsibility and respect. Interestingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-behr/people-who-have-attended-concealed-carry-classes-and-those-already/) [Gary Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-behr/) [Browse all 2,041 Amendment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "District of Columbia v. 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