President Donald Trump is taking on a retired Supreme Court justice who dramatically called for the repeal of the Second Amendment.
Trump said Wednesday that the constitutional right to bear arms would 'NEVER' be taken away in a tweet squarely aimed at John Paul Stevens, a former associate justice.
Writing in all caps, Trump said, 'THE SECOND AMENDMENT WILL NEVER BE REPEALED! As much as Democrats would like to see this happen, and despite the words yesterday of former Supreme Court Justice Stevens, NO WAY.
'We need more Republicans in 2018 and must ALWAYS hold the Supreme Court!' the president said, turning the anti-gun push into a mid-term election rallying cry.
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Former justice John Paul Stevens touched off on the anti-gun violence marches led by students across the country and said that true reforms would only come from a constitutional amendment ending Americans' right to bear arms. President Trump hit back at him on Wednesday
'We need more Republicans in 2018 and must ALWAYS hold the Supreme Court!' the president said, turning the anti-gun push into a mid-term election rallying cry
Protesters hold signs and shout during the 'March for Our Lives' rally in support of gun control in Washington. Stevens' op-ed was in direct response to the marches
Trump and the head of the National Rifle Association claimed last month at a national gathering of conservative activists that the left would come after Americans' gun rights if they seize power.
'Our American freedoms could be lost and our country will be changed forever,' NRA chief Wayne LaPierre said. 'The first to go will be the Second Amendment.'
A day later at the same conference, President Trump echoed LaPierre's mid-term warning, telling guests that if Democrats 'get in' to office, 'They will take away your Second Amendment, which we will never allow to happen.'
In an op-ed for the New York Times[1] on Monday, Stevens urged legislators to do just that.
Touching off on the anti-gun violence marches led by students across the country over the weekend, Stevens said that true reforms would only come from a constitutional amendment ending Americans' right to bear arms.
'That simple but dramatic action would move Saturday's marchers closer to their objective than any other possible reform,' Stevens, a Republican-appointed justice, wrote.
On the court, Stevens often sided with the liberal wing, even though he was appointed by Republican President Gerald Ford. He has declined to state his political affiliation in recent years.
The 97-year-old retired in 2010 after 35 years of service, making him the third-longest serving justice.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the
