you're not keeping up. Heller did get his 9 shot .22 revolver registered but DC has made any semi-automatic illegal by defining them as machineguns, therefore heller has been denied registration of his 7 shot browning 1911.


read the scotus opinion again. a total ban on a class of firearms is unconstitutional. Weapons in common use are constitutionally protected. Since the 1911 is a common use weapon used by most all of our military forces, it would be hard to accept that they could be denied constitutional protection.

This is a long thread and I have not read it all, but I was wondering if someone can translate Obama's position for me. Does Obama support the right of normal adult citizens, without criminal records, to own handguns specifically and firearms in general?

This is a pretty good interpretation of Obama's views, albeit from a liberal perspective:
Where is Obama on Gun Rights? - TalkLeft: The Politics Of Crime

I don't know what this means - "broad latitude to regulate guns". Most people seem to agree with registration, mental capacity, criminal checks, training, waiting periods, but it seems that he is saying that if I live in certain jurisdictions that I can be subject to regulations that functionally prevent me from owning a handgun. Is it me or is Obama not really clear on this issue?

You're right, he's being vague on purpose. To be honest, it's a smart move. He's already come down on the liberal side on most things, and he saw what happens when he doesn't come down on the liberal side (when he supported the new FISA, it pissed off a lot of people). His campaign is running on nearly religious followers, and he doesn't want any of them questioning him any more than they already are.

If I had to guess, though, I'd say that looking at what he did in Illinois is a good way of guessing what he'd do if president.