In 2018, I was heading to hear some friends speak at the Heller 10 Celebration hosted by the Second Amendment Institute. I got a call from one of my friends and she said “we’re going to Heller’s house”. I wondered, “Who’s we? Is it her? Am I part of we?”. She called back and I got to go hang out at the Heller resident. The next day, I was asked/told that I would give an impromptu speech on the Supreme Court Steps. I’ve seen Dick Heller at a number of events and got to film this show on our way to go shoot sporting clays at the M&M Hunting Preserve in New Jersey. He was the keynote at a fundraiser the night before. We shot clays with John Petrolino (RSWC #093), Gabby Franco (RSWC #), and Eric, who was helping get Dick around for the weekend.
We’ve all heard of the Heller decision. We all know what happened in the Heller case. It’s been cited and referenced case upon case. It’s referenced in McDonald v Chicago and NYSRPA v Bruen; if you haven’t read that “magnificent Scalia decision,” you need to do some homework.
The Heller case was ruled in 2008, but it started years before. Getting a case to the SCOTUS takes time and money. And lots of both. Several years before, Dick was friends with a fighter pilot and instructor and Vietnam veteran. He was also an Olympic shooter in 1980. Dick rented him a room. So he came over with a truck full of guns, which was illegal at the time, and said they were all going to jail. The friend got the guns out of DC and decided that he was going to go to law school to fight this nonsense. Heller said he was going to become a cop and they’ll give him a gun to protect them, but he won’t be able to protect himself. This is the beginning of the case.
When the case was done, Heller had to sign 12 more papers for another case just so the lawyers would get paid. He points out that the government pays to fight us with our own money in the form of taxes. And we also have to pay with our own money to fight the government. Heller’s team of lawyers was able to win the case despite the unlimited funds that DC had.
The case went to a federal court since it was a Constitutional issue. But it didn’t rule in Heller’s favor the first time. So they appealed to the DC Circuit Court. There, they prevail. During one of the trials, the opposing attorney admits to the judge that they just don’t want guns in DC. The lawyer hadn’t seen or heard the news that crimes in DC at the time was rising and a very violent city to live in.
Heller also shares that with his ruling in 2008 and with Sandy Hook happening in 2012, he was posed with what kind of influence his case could have been responsible for that incident. Ultimately, each individual has to be responsible for their actions. His ruling shouldn’t, and didn’t, have anything to do with other acts of evil people.
For years now, Heller has been associated with Gun Owners of America because they are the group that will not compromise our rights. He’s been to a number of the Coalition of New Jersey Firearm Owners and Women for Gun Rights events up and down the East Coast. And he’s been to several of the other national 2A events around the country. If you can see him and hear him speak, you need to take that. He’s a national treasure. And you can hear some of his story here.
Favorite quotes:
- “Everybody out there can do a little bit of something.”
- “The city has unlimited funding in the form of our tax dollars… with which to hurt us with our own money.”
- “You don’t whimp your way to the Supreme Court.”
- “In the arrogance of government, they thought they would have the high court voting on their side of the law.”
- “Sometimes you have to pull up your big boy pants and understand who you are and what you’re doing.”
About Riding Shotgun With Charlie
Riding Shotgun With Charlie isn’t about firearms. It is about having an intimate conversation with 2 people talking. You’re the fly on the rearview mirror. Many of the passengers are involved in the firearm community.
This is a more intimate conversation than a phone, radio, or Skype interview. You get to see the passengers. And you’ll see where the road and the conversation take you!
