A landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Second Amendment protects an individuals right to bear arms for private use will be the topic of a Jan. 23 talk at West Virginia University .

Attorney and gun lobbyist Richard Feldman will share his views on the high courts decision in District of Columbia v. Heller at 10 a.m. in the Marlyn E. Lugar Courtroom of the College of Law . His talkBehind Enemy Lines: The Role of Guns in Presidential Politicsis free and open to the public.

Feldman is the owner of MLS Communications , a public relations and political consulting firm in Rindge, N.H. He formerly was regional political director for the National Rifle Association and executive director of the firearm industrys national trade association. He is the author ofRicochet: Confessions of a Gun Lobbyist.

Richard Feldman provides a rare behind-the-scenes look into gun politics and shares new and valuable insights about gun policies,said Jeff Gustafson, secretary of the College of Laws American Constitution Society.Conscientious citizens of any persuasion will appreciate his experience.

In District of Columbia v. Heller, the Supreme Court upheld an appeals court decision striking down provisions of a 1975 District of Columbia gun control law. Among portions of the law thrown out were those banning handguns and requiring all firearms be kept unloaded, disassembled or bound by a trigger lock.

The ruling has reignited a national debate on the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms as states and municipalities re-examine their existing restrictions on gun sales and ownership.

Besides talking about the high court decision, Feldman will share his perspective about firearm policy, political action, citizen involvement and the role of the American gun lobby in electoral politics.

For more information, contact Gustafson at ” gustafsonjm@gmail.com rel=nofollow> gustafsonjm@gmail.com