Does Gun Control Have a Future?

Making News

Hamas-Israel Truce Looks Fragile ()

Israel has shut its border crossings into the Gaza Strip, claiming a rocket attack has disrupted the shaky ceasefire mediated by Egypt a week and a half ago. Hamas, which controls Gaza, denies the attack occurred. Joel Greenberg is Jerusalem correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.

Guests:

• Joel Greenberg: Jerusalem Correspondent, Chicago Tribune

Main Topic

The Constitutional Right to Gun Ownership ()

The US Supreme Court has settled an issue as old as the Bill of Rights: individuals must be allowed to own guns. But Justice Antonin Scalia, writing for the majority, also said, "Since this case represents this court's first in-depth examination of the Second Amendment, one should not expect it to clarify the entire field." Both sides have predicted a flood of lawsuits to seek "clarification," and sure enough, they're already being filed. If they can't ban guns, what kinds of regulations can governments impose? We ask about background checks, registration, assault weapons, trigger locks and carrying concealed weapons. What about gun crime and public safety? How long will it take to sort it all out, city by city and state by state?

Guests:

• Robert Levy: Senior Fellow, Cato Institute
• William Bratton: Chief, Los Angeles Police Department
• Paul Helmke: President, Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence
• Chuck Michel: Chief Attorney, National Rifle Association
• Whit Collins: Former Editor of Guns & Ammo

Links:

• NRA sues City of San Francisco over handgun ban in public housing
• Brady Center brief in Washington, DC case

Reporter's Notebook

African Union Appears Split over Zimbabwe ()

The world has been waiting to see how Robert Mugabe would be received at the African Union summit in Sharm Al-Sheik, Egypt. Kenya's Prime Minister has called the Zimbabwean President's blood-stained re-election a shame and embarrassment to the continent of Africa. The President of Sierra Leone has told the BBC that "the people of Zimbabwe have been denied their democratic rights" and that what has happened should be condemned. But at the summit , no such public action has taken place.  Alex Perry is Africa bureau chief for Time magazine.

Guests:

• Alex Perry: Africa Bureau Chief, Time Magazine