Eric Ruben

Originalism-by-Analogy and Second Amendment Adjudication

In New York State Rifle & Pistol Ass’n v. Bruen, the Supreme Court announced a novel historical-analogical approach to constitutional decisionmaking. The Court sought to constrain judicial discretion, but Bruen’s originalism-by-analogy has enabled judicial subjectivity, obfuscation, and unpredictability. This Article describes Bruen’s methodology, identifies its challenges, and offers solutions.

Firearm Regionalism and Public Carry: Placing Southern Antebellum Case Law in Context