District of Columbia v. Heller

Definition

District of Columbia v. Heller was a landmark Supreme Court case in 2008 where it was ruled that individuals have a constitutional right to keep a loaded handgun at home for self-defense purposes.

Related terms

Second Amendment: Part of U.S Constitution which protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms.

McDonald v. Chicago (2010): A Supreme Court case that extended the Second Amendment's right to keep and bear arms for self-defense to the states.

Self-Defense: The legal right, in most jurisdictions, to counter force with force for one's own personal safety.