United States v. Miller

307 U.S. 174 (1939)

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United States v. Miller

United States Supreme Court
307 U.S. 174 (1939)

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Facts

Jack Miller and Frank Layton (defendants) were criminally charged with possessing a sawed-off shotgun that had not been registered as required by the National Firearms Act. Miller and Layton argued that (1) the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution gave them a constitutional right to possess the shotgun and (2) the National Firearms Act’s registration requirements violated that right. The district court agreed that the act violated the men’s Second Amendment rights and quashed the charges. The federal government (plaintiff) appealed the matter directly to the United States Supreme Court.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (McReynolds, J.)

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