Just for arguments sake...how do you punish someone who murders multiple people and then blows his brains out? And, how do the survivors receive justice?

I struggle with that one myself each time it happens. I just wish they would cut to the chase and off themselves. My dad was at the Red Cross apartments in Seattle a few years when the guy went in and shot his girlfriend with the shotgun after the apartment fire. Actually talked to the guy before, and after he shot her, as my dad didn't know he had shot her, just that shots had been fired. Dad told the guy to watch out, then dad saw the shotgun, luckily he spared my dad.

I've also been the one to draw a weapon when a guy with a knife came into a restaurant I managed. I'd kicked him out the night before, and he said he'd be back. Luckily for both of us, and the folks in the restaurant, he immediately dropped the knife. I was about halfway through my trigger pull when the knife hit the ground.

When seconds count, the police will only be minutes away. Been a deputy and have seen that first hand. It up to each individual to take responsibility for their own security themselves, not law enforcement.

I haven't read the decision yet. I'm interested in the reasoning offered by the dissenting opinions.

Sg

I dont why anyone is suprised it was 5-4 Kennedy is often regarded as the swing vote.

Souter [sp] doesnt even respect private property rights.

We have four libs and four conservatives. One switch hitter.

Had John Kerry won, this would have gone a different way.

I wonder how many people in Florida and Ohio are happy today.

Probably the same number as were outraged over the "no death penalty for child rape" decision.

4 libs and 4 conservatives, and yet only two justices were appointed by a Democrat. I guess Republicans are as likely to appoint a liberal judge as a Democrat.

Here you go SG.......43 pages long but an interesting read http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/scotus-op-heller06262008.pdf

Dan,
Im not defending any presidents on this. Reagan-Oconner was a disappointment Bush-Souter turned out a loser.
We almost ended up with Harriet Meyers.
However, there is little hope, that a Democrat will appoint a conservative to the bench. Im not surprised about the rape case decision. Its tough enough to get a death sentence on a murder, let alone anything else. Letting the animals out, is worse than no death sentence.