We regret to inform you that the headline of the page 1 story of the current issue of The Flame, the ACLU of Florida Greater Miami Chapter’s newsletter, which reads: “Gun Control: National, state ACLU groups support assault weapons ban” is incorrect.
The ACLU’s position on regulating assault weapons has not been determined. Although the ACLU has called for reasonable limits on firearms in the name of public safety, the question of whether the organization is taking an affirmative position advocating for an assault weapons ban is a matter that is currently before both the ACLU’s national Board of Directors and a special committee appointed by our ACLU of Florida State Board President.
The article also reported that “the ACLU’s position on the Second Amendment right is that it is a collective right rather than an individual right.” This is incorrect.
The ACLU’s policy recognizes the viability of both the collective-right and individual-right interpretations in the historical context of its adoption. Regarding the collective-right interpretation, the policy acknowledged that “it is clear that a major goal of the Amendment was to secure the collective power of the states to raise and use arms (against “potential federal tyranny”), should their citizens consider it necessary.” Regarding the individual-right interpretation, the policy recognized that, at the time of adoption, “Americans took the individual possession of firearms for granted.” Relative to both interpretations is the recognition that “it is precisely because gun ownership was so widespread that the governmental power to regulate firearms was equally taken for granted.”
We regret the errors.
Howard Simon
Executive Director, ACLU-FL
Michael Barfield
President, ACLU-FL