Luther College political scientist John Moeller says gun control versus gun rights is a balancing act

Luther College political science professor John Moeller Tuesday morning spoke to an audience of just under 30 people at the NE Iowa Peace & Justice Center about the history of the Second Amendment and gun control issues.

After reviewing numerous Supreme Court rulings on the issue, Moeller told the audience the role of the court has been to balance the interests of individuals to have guns with the right of the state to provide safety.

"No liberty is absolute," Moeller told the group, underscoring that government has a right to maintain public safety--but citizens also have a right to self-defense.

The Supreme Court has tried to negotiate those conflicting rights, he says.  And since there are no cases involving the Second Amendment currently before the Supreme Court, the justices seem like they will allow the political processes to handle the question--at least for the time being.