SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF LAW
DONALD J. GuTER, President, Dean, and Professor of Law
MAXINE D. GooDMAN, Vice President, Associate Dean, and Professor of Law
BRUCE A. McGOVERN, Vice President, Associate Dean for Academic Administration, and Professor of Law
CATHERINE GREENE BURNETT, Vice President, Associate Dean, Professor of Law, and Director of the Pro Bono Honors Programs
JOHN J. WORLEY, Vice President, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, and Professor of Law
FACULTY
JAMES J. ALFINI, B.A., Columbia University; J.D., Northwestern University School of Law; Dean Emeritus and Professor of Law.
JoHN H.BAUMAN,B.A., Pomona College; J.D., Stanford Law School; Professor of Law.
JosH BLACKMAN, B.S., The Pennsylvania State University; J.D., George Mason University School of Law; Associate Professor of Law.
VANESSA BROWNE-BARBOUR, B.A., Carnegie-Mellon University; J.D., Duquesne University School of Law; Professor of Law.
CATHERINE GREENE BURNETT, B.A., University of Texas; J.D., University of Texas School ofLaw; VicePresident, AssociateDean, andProfessorofLaw.
ELAINE A. CARLSON, B.S., Southern Illinois University; M.A., McMaster University; J.D., Houston College of Law (formerly South Texas College of Law); Stanley J. Krist Distinguished Professor of Texas Law; 2008 DistinguishedAlumna and Professor of Law.
RICHARD R. CARLSON, B.A., Wake Forest University; J.D., University of Georgia School of Law; Professor of Law.
SANDRA J. CARNAHAN, B.A., University of Arkansas at Fayetteville; J.D., Houston College of Law (formerly South Texas College of Law); LL.M., University of Houston Law Center; Professor of Law.
AMANDA HARMON COOLEY,B.A., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; J.D., University of North Carolina School of Law; Professor of Law.
GEOFFREY S. CORN, B.A., Hartwick College; J.D., George Washington University Law School; LL.M., The Judge Advocate General's School, United States Army; Professor of Law.
SusANWAITECRUMP,AB., UniversityofCaliforniaatDavis; J.D., Universityof Houston Law Center; Professor of Law.
ELIZABETH A. DENNIS, B.A., Hollins College; J.D., Houston College of Law (formerly South Texas College of Law); Assistant Dean, Director of Academic Internships, andAssociate Professor of Clinical Studies.
W.DAYIDEAST,B.A.,BaylorUniversity; J.D.,BaylorUniversitySchool ofLaw; LL.M., George Washington University Law School; Director of TransactionalPractice Center and Professor of Law.
MATTHEW J. FESTA, B.A. University of Notre Dame; M.P.A., Murray State University; M.A., Vanderbilt University; J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School; Professor of Law.
TED L. FIELD, B.A., University of Illinois at Chicago; M.A., Northwestern University; J.D., The John Marshall Law School; Professor of Law.
vi
DEREK FINCHAM, B.A., University of Kansas; J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law; Ph.D., University of Aberdeen School of Law; Professorof Law.
SHARON FINEGAN, B.A., University of Virginia; J.D., American University Washington College of Law; LL.M., Columbia Law School; Professorof Law.
PAMELAE. GEORGE,B.S.,UniversityofTexas;M.L.S.,UniversityofTexas;J.D., University of Texas School of Law; ProfessorofLaw.
MAXINE D. GOODMAN, B.A., Brandeis University; J.D., University of Texas School of Law; VicePresident,AssociateDean,andProfessorofLaw.
DoNALD J. GurnR, B.A., University of Colorado; J.D., Duquesne University School of Law; President,Dean,andProfessorofLaw.
HELEN BISHOP JENKINS, B.M.E., Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins Institute; M.M.E., Howard University; J.D., University of Houston Law Center; ExecutiveVicePresidentEmeritusandProfessorofLaw.
R. RANDALL KELSO, B.A., University of Chicago; J.D., University of Wisconsin Law School; SpurgeonE.BellDistinguishedProfessorofLaw.
JosEPH K. LEAHY, B.A., Swarthmore College; J.D.New York University School of Law; ProfessorofLaw.
KATERINA LEWINBUK, B.A., Minnesota State University; J.D., John Marshall Law School; ProfessorofLaw.
BETTY J. LUKE, B.S., Lamar University; B.S., University of Tc;xas Medical Branch; J.D., Houston College of Law (formerly South Texas College of Law); LL.M., University of Houston Law Center; AssociateProfessorof ClinicalStudies.
BRUCE A. McGOVERN, B.A., Columbia University; J.D., Fordham University School of Law; LL.M., University ofFlorida College of Law; VicePresident, AssociateDean,andProfessorofLaw.
SHELBY A.D. MooRE, B.A., Towson State University; J.D., University of Baltimore School of Law; LL.M., Harvard Law School; ProfessorofLaw.
RAY E. MosEs, B.A., University of Texas; J.D., University of Texas School of Law; LL.M., Northwestern University Law School; S.J.D., Southern Methodist University School of Law; ProfessorofLaw.
OLGA L. MOYA, B.A., University of Texas; J.D., University of Texas School of Law; ProfessorofLaw.
JAMES L. MussELMAN, A.A., Illinois Central College; B.S., Illinois State University; J.D., Brigham Young University; J. Reuben Clark Law School; ProfessorofLaw.
FRANCESCA ORTIZ, B.A., University of Texas; J.D., Harvard Law School; ProfessorofLaw.
PHILLIP E. PAGE, B.S., UniversityofTennessee; J.D., MemphisState University College of Law; LL.M., New York University School of Law; Professorof Law.
JAMES W. PAULSEN, B.F.A., Texas ChristianUniversity; J.D., Baylor University School of Law; LL.M., Harvard Law School; ProfessorofLaw.
AMANDA J. PETERS, B.A., Texas Tech University; J.D., Texas Tech University Schoolof Law; HelenandHarryHutchensResearchProfessorandProfessor ofLaw.
JEAN FLEMING POWERS, B.A., University of Texas; J.D., University of Houston Law Center; ProfessorofLaw.
ScoTT REMPELL, B.A., University of Michigan; J.D., American University, Washington College of Law; ProfessorofLaw.
vii
JEFFREY L. RENSBERGER, B.A., Wabash College; J.D., Indiana University, Bloomington; VicePresidentforStrategicPlanningandInstitutionalResearch and Professor of Law.
CHARLES W. "RocKY" RHODES, B.B.A., Baylor University; J.D., Baylor University School of Law; Vinson & Elkins Research Professor and Professor of Law.
VAL D. RrcKs, B.A., Brigham Young University; J.D., Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School; Charles Weigel II Research Professor and Professor of Law.
ARNOLD RocHVARG, B.A., University of Pennsylvania; J.D., George Washington University; Visiting Professor of Law.
GARYS.RosIN, B.S.,Texas A&MUniversity;J.D.,University ofTexasSchoolof Law; Professor of Law.
NrnRI MATHIS RUTLEDGE, B.A., Spelman College; J.D., Harvard Law School; Professor of Law.
MARKR.SIEGEL, B.S., B.A., University ofFlorida;J.D., Florida StateUniversity College of Law; LL.M.,Emory University School of Law; Professor of Law.
ANDREW T. SOLOMON, B.A., University of Michigan; J.D., Boston University School of Law; Professor of Law.
TOBIN A. SPARLING, B.A., Dartmouth College; M.S., Columbia University School of Library Service; M.A., Columbia University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences; J.D., Columbia Law School; Professor of.Law.
MARKE. STEINER, B.A., University of Texas; J.D., University of Houston Law Center; Ph.D., University of Houston; Professor of Law.
DRu STEVENSON, B.A.,Wheaton College;J.D., University of Connecticut School of Law; LL.M., Yale Law School; Professor of Law.
CHERIE 0. TAYLOR, A.B., Harvard University-Radcliffe College; J.D., University of Georgia School of Law; LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center; Professor of Law.
T. GERALD TREECE, B.A., University of Houston; J.D., University of Houston LawCenter; VicePresident,AssociateDean, Special Counsel tothePresident and Dean, and W. James Kronzer, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law.
MICHAELE. WHEELER, B.A., Arkansas Tech University; J.D., University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law; Professor of Law.
KENNETH WILLIAMS, B.A., University of San Francisco; J.D., University of Virginia School of Law; Professor of Law.
JoHN J. WORLEY, A.B., University of Georgia; J.D., University of Georgia School of Law; M.A., Rice University; Vice President, Associate Dean, Director of Transactional LawPractice Certificate Program and Professor of Law.
KEVINM.YAMAMOTO, B.S., Universityof Californiaat Davis;J.D., University of San Diego School of Law; LL.M., University of Florida College of Law; Professor of Law.
viii
GAYRIGHTS STRENGTHEN GUNRIGHTS
I.INTRODUCTION
A written constitution is a reminder that governments can be unreasonable and unjust. Rights selected for protection in the United States Constitution are considered to be peculiarly important and uniquely vulnerable to infringement. The rights guaranteed by the Constitution protect individuals against even popular conceptions of the public good. Consequently, the judiciary's role is to act as a check on overbearing majoritiesandoverreachingexecutives.
The Supreme Court held in Obergefe/l v. Hodges that the Fourteenth Amendment's guarantees of due process and equal protection protect the fundamental right ofsame-sex couples to marry and require every state to recognize a same-sex civil marriage lawfully licensed and performed in another state.1 The guarantee of equal protection was implicated because the laws under review burdened the fundamental right to civil marriage.2 It was a five-to-four decision.3 Obergefell strengthens two other recent fiveto-four decisions, decisions guaranteeing the enumerated right to keep and
• J.D., George Mason University School ofLaw; Member District ofColumbia Bar; Author of Resistance by Inferior Courts to Supreme Court's Second Amendment Decisions, 81 TENN. L. REV. 673 (2014). The author wishes to thankProfessorRobert Cottrol, Dr. Stephen P. Halbrook, ProfessorDavidB.Kopel,ProfessorNelsonLund,ProfessorGeorgeA.Mocsary, and, aseverand always, herhusband.
I. SeeObergefellv.Hodges,135 S. Ct.2584,2607-08(2015).
2. Id. at2590.
3. Id. at2591.
ALICEMARIEBEARD* I.INTRODUCTION...............................................................................215 II. HOLDINGIN OBERGEFELL V. HODGES............................................216 III. SUPREMECOURT'S21STCENTURYRIGHT-TO-BEAR-ARMS DECISIONS......................................................................................218 IV. OBERGEFELL STRENGTHENSRIGHTTOKEEPANDBEARARMS....221 V. HELLER ANDMCDONALD INTHEINFERIORCOURTS......................229 VI.CONCLUSION··················································································238
215
bear arms. 4 This Article examines Obergefell's methodology and applies that methodologytotherightto arms.
II.HOLDINGINOBERGEFELL V. HODGES
[S]ame-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry in all States. It follows that the Court also must hold-and it now does hold-thatthere is no lawful basis for aState to refuse to recognize a lawful same-sex marriage performed in another State on the ground ofitssame-sexcharacter.5
The Court arrived at this holding by observing that fundamental liberties protected by the Fourteenth Amendment are not restricted to the rights enumerated in the Bill ofRights. The identification and protection of fundamental rights "has not been reduced to any formula."6 This is especiallytrue when theconstitutional guarantee sets forthbroadprinciples, as doestheFourteenthAmendment.7 New insights andcultural andpolitical developments make new dimensions offreedom and individual autonomy become apparent to new generations.8 However, both "history and tradition guide and discipline th[e] inquiry" of identifying and protecting fundamentalrights.9
The ObergefellCourtacknowledgedthat it was notuntil2003 that any court held its State Constitution's guarantee of due process and equal protection guaranteed same-sex couples the right to civil marriage.10 A dissenting opinion noted that no country allowed same-sex marriage until 2000whentheNetherlandsdidso. 11
4. See generally McDonaldv.CityofChicago,Ill.,561U.S.742(2010);Districtof Columbiav.Heller(HellerI),554U.S.570(2008).
5. Obergefell,135S.Ct.at2607--08.
6. Id at2598(citingPoev.Ullman,367U.S.497,542(1961)(Harlan,J.,dissenting)).
7. SeeU.S.CONST.amend.XIV.
8.SeegenerallyLawrencev. Texas, 539U.S.558(2003),whichinvalidatedsodomylaws. Lawrence happened,atleastinpart,becauseofculturalandpoliticaldevelopments."Adeep transformationinAmericancultureandpoliticshadbroughtaboutaprofoundshiftintheCourt's perceptionofgaymenandlesbians."DALECARPENTER,FLAGRANTCONDUCT:THESTORYOF LAWRENCE v. TEXAS 221(2012).DavidColearguesthatchangesofpublicopinionwere responsibleforthreerecentU.S.SupremeCourtdecisions:legalizationofsame-sexmarriage, righttokeepandbeararms,andprotectionoftherightsofforeignnationalssuspectedofdealings withtheenemyandimprisonedbyU.S.intimeofwar.DAVIDCOLE,ENGINESOFLIBERTY:THE POWEROFCITIZENACTNJSTSTOMAKECONSTITUTIONALLAW(2016).
9. Obergefell,135S.Ct.at2595-96,2598.
10. See id. at2597(citingGoodridgev.Dep'tofPub.Health,798N.E.2d941,948(Mass. 2003)).
11. Id. at2640(Alito,J.,dissenting)(quotingUnitedStatesv.Windsor,133S.Ct.2675, 2715(2013)(Alito,J.,dissenting)).
216 SOUTHTEXASLAWREVIEW [Vol.57:215
However,theFramersoftheFourteenthAmendmententrustedits protectionstofuturegenerations.12Injusticecannotalwaysbeseenata particulartimeinhistory.Thus,welearnfromhistory-"withoutallowing thepastalonetorulethepresent"-to"protect[]therightofallpersonsto enjoyliberty"inallitsdimensions.13Therefore,oncearightisrecognized asfundamentalandisprotected,therightnolongerdependsontheoutcome ofanyelection.14
TheCourt'sultimateholdingwasbasedonanextensionofitspast holdings,includingthatabanonfreedomtomarrybasedonracial differencesisunconstitutionalundertheFourteenthAmendment's guaranteeofdueprocessandequalprotection;15thatitisunconstitutional undertheFourteenthAmendment'sguaranteeofequalprotectionforastate constitutiontoimposeabanonprotectingpersonsagainstdiscrimination basedonsexualorientation;16thatcriminalizationofcertainsame-sexacts ofintimacyisunconstitutionalundertheFourteenthAmendment's guaranteeofdueprocess;17andthatthefederalDefenseofMarriageAct's restrictionoftheterms"marriage"and"spouse"toheterosexualunionsis unconstitutionalundertheFifthAmendment'sguaranteeofdueprocess.18 Thesedecisions,like Obergefell, werebasedprimarilyonsubstantivedue processandequalprotectionratherthanonanenumeratedright.19 Substantivedueprocessprotectsthefundamentalrighttomarry,andthe guaranteeofequalprotectionprohibitsunjustifiedinfringementofthe fundamentalrighttomarry.20
12. Id. at2598(majorityopinion).
13. Id.
14. See id. at2605-06.OnNovember4,2008,Californiavoted52.24%infavorof Proposition8. California Proposition 8, the "Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry" Initiative (2008), BALLOTPEDIA, https://ballotpedia.org/Califomia_Proposition_8,the_%22Eliminates_Right_of_SameSex_Couples_to_Marry"/c,22_Initiative_(2008)(lastvisitedJan.13,2016).
15. Obergefell,135S.Ct.at2589,2598(citingLovingv.Virginia,388U.S.1,12(1967)).
16. Id. at2596(citingRomerv.Evans,517U.S.620(1996)).
17. Id. (citingLawrencev.Texas,539U.S.558,578(2003)).JusticeO'Connorconcurred basedontheFourteenthAmendment'sEqualProtectionClause. Lawrence, 539U.S.at579 (O'Connor,J.,concurring).
18. Id. at2597(citingUnitedStatesv.Windsor,133S.Ct.2675,2681(2013)).
19. Id. at2602-03; seealsosupranotes15-18andaccompanyingtext.
20. Id. at2606.
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