What were the arguments for the defendant in McDonald v. Chicago?

Asked by: Luella Brown  |  Last update: February 17, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (16 votes)

In McDonald v. Chicago, the defendant (City of Chicago) argued that states and cities should retain authority to regulate firearms, particularly handguns, to suit local needs, contending the Second Amendment right to bear arms wasn't a fundamental right incorporated by the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause or Privileges or Immunities Clause, as seen in other countries with strict bans. Chicago asserted that since the right wasn't "deeply rooted in this Nation's history and tradition," states could ban handguns, unlike the federal government.

What was the argument in McDonald v. Chicago?

McDonald's primary argument is that the Second Amendment is among the privileges or immunities of American citizenship that states may not abridge. In so arguing, McDonald examines the circumstances surrounding the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment following the Civil War.

Who are the participants in McDonald v. Chicago?

Otis McDonald, Adam Orlov, Colleen Lawson, and David Lawson (Chicago petitioners) are Chicago residents who would like to keep handguns in their homes for self-defense but are prohibited from doing so by Chicago's firearms laws.

What was the dissenting opinion in McDonald v. Chicago?

Justice John Paul Stevens dissented. He disagreed that the Fourteenth Amendment incorporates the Second Amendment against the states. He argued that owning a personal firearm was not a "liberty" interest protected by the Due Process Clause.

Which statement accurately summarizes the impact of the McDonald's v. Chicago 2010 decision?

The statement that accurately summarizes the impact of McDonald v. Chicago (2010) is that the Supreme Court incorporated the Second Amendment's individual right to keep and bear arms, making it applicable to state and local governments through the Fourteenth Amendment, thus limiting their ability to restrict gun ownership for self-defense. This ruling extended the federal gun rights established in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) to all states and cities, preventing them from enacting bans like Chicago's handgun ban. 

McDonald v. Chicago, EXPLAINED [AP Gov Required Supreme Court Cases]

43 related questions found

What was the significance of McDonald's v Chicago 2010 Quizlet?

McDonald v. Chicago (2010) was significant because the Supreme Court ruled the Second Amendment right to bear arms for self-defense applies to state and local governments, not just the federal government, through the Fourteenth Amendment's Due Process Clause (incorporation), effectively striking down Chicago's restrictive handgun ban and forcing other cities to revise their gun laws. 

What is the author's main argument is that the Second Amendment?

An author's main argument about the Second Amendment typically centers on whether it protects an individual right for self-defense, a collective right for state militias, or a civic right/duty for citizens to arm themselves for militia service, with prominent scholars like Saul Cornell arguing for the militia-duty interpretation, contrasting with other views that focus on personal gun ownership for protection, as seen in debates over the amendment's historical meaning. The debate often hinges on whether "the people" refers to individuals or the collective, and the amendment's prefatory clause about a "well regulated Militia". 

What are the dissenting opinions in the case?

A dissenting opinion refers to an opinion written by an appellate judge or Supreme Court Justice who disagrees with the majority opinion in a given case. A party who writes a dissenting opinion is said to dissent.

Who was the chief justice in the McDonald v. Chicago case?

The McDonald decision was a close one, with a 5-4 majority. Justice Samuel Alito, Jr. wrote the majority opinion and was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Anthony Kennedy. Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas wrote their own concurring opinions.

Who is Otis McDonald's Chicago?

Being a hunter and an Army veteran, he was already exposed to and familiar with firearms. However, Chicago prohibited him from owning a handgun, so Mr. McDonald, along with others, sued the city and eventually overturned the handgun ban in 2010 in McDonald v Chicago, a case that holds national importance.

Who sued in McDonald's v Chicago?

In 2010, the Supreme Court heard a case challenging Chicago's handgun ban, one similar to DC's recently overturned ban. Otis McDonald and three other Chicago residents sued the city over the ban, and because the Heller decision only applied federally, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. In McDonald v.

What is the right to bear arms?

The "right to bear arms" refers to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, protecting the right to keep and carry weapons, interpreted by some as an individual right for self-defense and by others as tied to militia service, leading to ongoing debates and Supreme Court cases defining its scope and gun control regulations. Historically rooted in English law and the concept of armed citizenry for a free state, the amendment's application to modern society with standing armies remains a central point of contention, though the Supreme Court has affirmed it protects individual rights for self-defense, as seen in cases like McDonald v. Chicago and NYSRPA v. Bruen.
 

Which two constitutional amendments were instrumental in the court's decision in McDonald v. Chicago 2010?

They sought a declaration that the handgun ban and several related Chicago ordinances violate the Second and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.... Petitioners argue that the Chicago and Oak Park laws violate the right to keep and bear arms for two reasons.

What was the main conclusion of DC v. Heller and McDonald v. Chicago?

District of Columbia, 478 F. 3d 370, 401 (2007). It held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess firearms and that the city's total ban on handguns, as well as its requirement that firearms in the home be kept nonfunctional even when necessary for self-defense, violated that right.

What is the due process clause?

Due process (or due process of law) primarily refers to the concept found in the Fifth Amendment to the US Constitution, which says no one shall be "deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law" by the federal government.

Which amendments are not incorporated?

As a note, the Ninth Amendment and the Tenth Amendment have not been incorporated, and it is unlikely that they ever will be. The text of the Tenth Amendment directly interacts with state law, and the Supreme Court rarely relies upon the Ninth Amendment when deciding cases.

What was the decision in McDonald v. Chicago?

Two years later, in McDonald v. City of Chicago, 561 U.S. ___, ___, 130 S. Ct. 3020, 3050 (2010), the Supreme Court held that the second amendment right recognized in Heller is fully applicable to the states through the due process clause of the fourteenth amendment.

Who did John Roberts replace?

John Roberts replaced William Rehnquist as the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005, though he was initially nominated to be an Associate Justice to replace Sandra Day O'Connor before Rehnquist's passing led to the new appointment.
 

What was the question before the Court in McDonald v. Chicago?

The question presented to the Court is whether the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms is incorporated against the states by the Fourteenth Amendment's “Due Process Clause.”

What were the majority and dissenting opinions?

A dissenting opinion is an appellate opinion of one or more judges which disagrees with the reasoning stated in the majority or plurality opinion and, consequently, with the result reached in a case.

What does "I dissent" mean?

"I dissent" means "I disagree," expressing a formal or strong disagreement with a majority opinion, decision, or prevailing view, often used by judges in legal rulings or by individuals opposing authority, signifying a refusal to give consent or assent. It's a powerful statement of holding a contrary viewpoint, famously used by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to highlight differing perspectives on important issues.
 

What famous cases had strong dissents?

Famous U.S. Supreme Court cases with influential dissents include Plessy v. Ferguson (Harlan's "Our Constitution is color-blind" dissent), Dred Scott v. Sandford (Curtis's dissent), Olmstead v. United States (Brandeis's dissent on privacy), and Korematsu v. United States (Jackson's dissent against Japanese Internment), with Justices like RBG, Scalia, and Holmes also known for powerful dissents that often foreshadowed future legal shifts.
 

What are some arguments for the Second Amendment?

  • The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states:
  • Some historians argue that the primary reason for the Second Amendment was to prevent the need for the United States to have a professional standing army. ...
  • Others say the fear of a standing army is the reason for the Second Amendment protections.

Is owning a gun a right or a privilege?

In the U.S., gun ownership is considered a constitutional right under the Second Amendment, confirmed by the Supreme Court, but it's a regulated right, not absolute, meaning governments can impose reasonable restrictions, leading some to argue it functions partly as a privilege that requires responsibility and adherence to laws. While the core right to bear arms for self-defense is established, the scope of permissible regulations, like background checks or bans for certain individuals, remains a subject of ongoing legal debate, balancing individual liberties with public safety. 

What does the 27th Amendment say?

The 27th Amendment says that any law changing the salaries of U.S. Senators and Representatives cannot take effect until after the next election for the House of Representatives, preventing lawmakers from giving themselves immediate pay raises and giving voters a chance to weigh in. This amendment, originally proposed in 1789, was ratified in 1992, making it the most recent addition to the Constitution, with the longest ratification period in U.S. history.