The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rules that Selim “Sam” Zherka, a real estate magnate convicted of a nonviolent financial crime, can be permanently stripped of his Second Amendment rights. This decision directly upholds the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), a controversial statute preventing felons from possessing firearms based on their convictions, regardless of the nature of the crime.
Zherka’s case highlights a growing tension between individual rights and government authority, wherein he contends that lying to a bank—without any financial losses occurring—should not warrant such a severe penalty. With conflicting opinions among federal circuits, he intends to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court, arguing it could set a dangerous precedent for how civil rights are treated in America, particularly for those accused of nonviolent offenses.
Read full story at www.miamiherald.com
