Federal judge rules Chicago's ban on gun sales is unconstitutional

(http://www.foxnews.com) A federal judge ruled yesterday that Chicago's ordinances banning the sale and transfer of firearms are unconstitutional. The ruling does not effect the city's ban on assault weapons.

U.S. District Judge Edmond E. Chang stated that, although the government is responsible for protecting its citizens, it must also protect constitutional rights, in this case, the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to keep and bear arms for self defense. However, Fox News reports, "Chang said he would temporarily stay the effects of his ruling, meaning the ordinances can stand while the city decides whether to appeal."

Chicago has more violent crime than many parts of the country and had the highest number of murders last year, despite its infamous gun control laws. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned Chicago's gun ban in 2010, and a federal appeals court forced the state of Illinois to allow its residents to carry concealed firearms last year.

As reported by Fox News, Todd Vandermyde, a National Rifle Association lobbyist, said the fact that a federal judge appointed by Obama "ruled in favor of the Second Amendment, shows how out of step and outrageous Chicago's ordinances really are."

Chang wrote that Chicago "goes too far in outright banning legal buyers and legal dealers from engaging in lawful acquisitions and lawful sales of firearms, and at the same time the evidence does not support that the complete ban sufficiently furthers the purposes that the ordinance tries to serve."