Heller decision

The Heller decision, from the 2008 U.S. Supreme Court case District of Columbia v. Heller, ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home. The Court emphasized that this right is not unlimited but affirms that people have a constitutional right to own firearms, especially for personal protection. This decision clarified that laws restricting handgun ownership in Washington, D.C., were unconstitutional, reinforcing the notion that firearm rights are protected individual rights under the Constitution.