Skip to content

DC V. Heller (2008)

Definition

US Supreme Court decision (554 US 570) holding that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms for traditionally lawful purposes, including self-defence in the home. Struck down DC's handgun ban. The right is not unlimited: it is consistent with prohibitions on felon and mentally ill possession, sensitive-place restrictions, and commercial sale conditions.

Related terms

Arms Trade Treaty 2013 (ATT)
The first legally binding global instrument governing the international trade in conventional arms. In force 24 December 2014; 113 state parties as...
Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act 1993
US federal statute establishing the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) administered by the FBI. Requires FFLs to conduct a NICS...
eTrace (ATF)
ATF's electronic firearms trace system. Allows domestic and (via bilateral agreements and iARMS) international law enforcement agencies to submit serial-number trace requests...
Firearms Act 1968 (UK)
The primary UK statute governing firearms. Section 1 requires a Firearm Certificate (FAC) for most firearms; section 2 requires a Shotgun Certificate;...
Gun Control Act 1968 (GCA)
US federal statute establishing the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) system for commercial sales, the Form 4473 record, and the prohibited-person categories under...
INTERPOL iARMS
INTERPOL's Illicit Arms Records and tracing Management System. Multilateral database enabling law enforcement in INTERPOL member countries to trace recovered or seized...
National Firearms Act 1934 (NFA)
US federal statute governing machine guns, short-barrelled rifles, suppressors, destructive devices, and other NFA items. Requires registration on the NFRTR and a...
R V. Bentham (2005)
House of Lords decision (2005 UKHL 18) holding that a component of a section 5 firearm must be a manufactured artefact. A...
UN Programme of Action (UN POA 2001)
Non-binding political commitment by UN member states to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons. Sets...

Explained in

Your journey to becoming a forensic professional starts here.

Practice with mock tests, learn from structured notes, and get your questions answered by a global forensic community, all in one place.