Sotomayor's Answers Don't Satisfy Coburn

Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor assured Senator Tom Coburn today she has an open mind on whether states must recognize an individual right to own firearms, but it's unlikely her answer will ease opposition to her from defenders of the Second Amendment.

Sotomayor's comment came as Coburn pushed her on the Second Amendment. Sotomayor said she understands the importance of the individual right recognized last year by the Supreme Court's Heller vs. D. C. decision striking down strict handgun regulations in the District of Columbia.

Chris Casteel of The Oklahoman reported that Coburn suggested that Sotomayor's upbringing in the Bronx might give her a different perspective on gun ownership than from people in Oklahoma. And he said "Second Amendment rights may hang in the balance'' since the Supreme Court could consider the question of whether the individual right recognized in the federal district case applies to all states.

"I can assure your constituents that I have a completely open mind on this question,'' said Sotomayor, a judge on the federal appeals court that includes New York.

Coburn, R-Muskogee, who also asked Sotomayor again about abortion and foreign law as the Judiciary Committee continued its confirmation hearings today, ended his allotted time by saying he was still undecided about how he was going to vote on her nomination.

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