The end of gun control?

A majority on the Supreme Court appears ready to strike down Chicago's handgun ban -- a decision that would mark a significant victory for supporters of gun rights. The justices ruled in 2008 that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to own guns, and throwing out the Chicago law would prevent cities and states from interfering by telling people they can't keep firearms in their homes. Is this the beginning of the end of gun control in America? (Watch a PBS report about the Supreme Court and guns rights)

Yes, gun control is all but finished: The Supreme Court is about to slam the door on "the modern American gun control movement" once and for all, says Andrew Cohen in The Atlantic. If the court rules as expected -- we'll find out in June -- it "will undermine many state and local gun laws around the nation." After that President Obama and Congress can try to rein in gun rights, but "it ain't gonna be easy."

"The McDonald gun case: Here to serve you"

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This isn't the end of gun control, just gun bans: Throwing out Chicago's law would only make it unconstitutional for cities and states to ban handguns, says Eugene Volokh in The New York Times, or otherwise "dramatically affect people’s abilities to defend themselves." But most less stringent gun controls, "whether or not wise as a matter of policy, are almost certain to be upheld."

"An end to gun bans"

Lawmakers have already killed gun control: Chicago's ban is an anomaly, says Ann Woolner in BusinessWeek. The "real problem" is that state legislators across the national "want to give more people the right to buy more guns and carry them into more places" -- a group of Georgia lawmakers wants to allow handguns in bars, churches, college campuses, and state playgrounds. What about "the right of the people to be safe from gunfire"?

"Give us a right to be free of those who bear arms"