The supreme court, of the corporate United states hands down United states v. Miller: Article II of Amendment applies only to the ownership of arms that are related to membership in a “well-regulated Militia.”

       NOTES:

• In writing the Opinion of the Court, associate justice James Clark McReynolds was ambiguous and confusing.  It gave rise of the course of the next seven decades for varied decisions from the circuit appellate courts that were diametrically opposed to each other in their rulings.  The opinion of the court seems to leave open the possibility of private ownership of shoulder held anti-tank weapons, grenade launchers, et cetera, the ownership of which is specifically prohibited by Federal statute.

• The counsel for the respondents was a court-appointed attorney (government licensed legal counsel), who was given only two weeks to prepare for the hearing before the supreme court, had not been paid, nor had been given any of the standard materials needed from the trial to prepare for the appeal.

       [updated 7/26/2024]