Last year, Rep. Koch joined the National Rifle Association's (NRA) amicus brief in this case. "Today, the Supreme Court affirmed that the Second Amendment applies to all levels of government. I am proud to have been a part of this landmark decision protecting gun owners' rights," said Rep. Koch. The laws passed by the City of Chicago and the Village of Oak Park in Illinois completely banned hand guns. Although in a case two years ago, the Supreme Court had protected an individual's right to possess guns, that decision applied to self-defense in the home and only applied to federal laws. Today's case strikes down bans passed at the local level, broadly applying the Second Amendment to state and local laws, as well as federal laws. Rep. Koch serves on the House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code as Ranking Republican Member, the Commerce, Energy, Technology and Utilities Committee and the Judiciary Committee. He serves House District 65, which includes parts of Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson and Lawrence counties. -30- |