Facts
Defendant
was convicted in the U.S.District Court of possessing firearm in school zone in violation of
Gun-Free School Zones Act, and he appealed.
The Fifth
Circuit reversed and remanded with
directions, and government petitioned for certiorari review.
The U.S. Supreme Court granted
certiorari.
Holding
The U.S. Supreme Court held that Gun-Free School
Zones Act, making it federal offense for any individual knowingly to
possess firearm at place that individual knows or has reasonable cause to
believe is school zone, exceeded Congress' commerce clause authority, since
possession of gun in local school zone was not economic activity that
substantially affected interstate commerce.
Affirmed.
