It’s amazing how well-educated, intelligent people can so often do stupid things.

Consider, for instance, the United States Supreme Court’s decision to shoot down the 32-year-old ban on handguns in Washington, D.C. last week – declaring it unconstitutional.

By a 5-4 margin, the nine justices effectively ruled every American has the right to own guns for self-defence and for hunting.

Not surprisingly, supporters of the National Rifle Association are claiming victory while the mayor of Washington is disgusted.

“More handguns in the District of Columbia will only lead to more handgun violence,” explains Mayor Adrian Fenty.

The court’s decision is a determination of whether the two-century-old Second Amendment to the U.S. constitution applies to individuals and the military, or simply the military.

It states: “A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

The Supreme Court decision is monumental; it is unlikely to be revisited anytime soon, even if Barack Obama wins the upcoming presidential election and manages to replace one or two retiring Republican judges with Democrats.

Besides, both he and Republican hopeful John McCain support the court’s ruling.

It’s telling that Washington D.C. municipal officials are virtually unanimous in their condemnation of the gun ruling.

They know it will result in many more people dying.

Washington, D.C. is already one of the most dangerous cities in the U.S.

Toronto Mayor David Miller is worried that the U.S. decision will endanger Canadians.

“The easy supply of handguns in the U.S. leads directly to people being killed in Toronto,” he points out. “It’s that direct.”

Miller has called on the federal government to ban handgun ownership in Canada and has launched an online petition supporting such a ban. (It has already been signed by more than 50,000 people).

Unfortunately, such a ban will probably never come to pass in the Great White North.

That’s because the federal Liberals made such a mess of gun control, squandering up to $2 billion in the process, that Canadians no longer have any confidence in Ottawa’s ability to handle firearm issues.

Sadly, the only thing that might rejuvenate tougher gun-control laws here would be another tragedy like the Montreal Massacre, and no one wants to see that.

If you have a gun in your home, perhaps now is the time to either get rid of it or ensure it is adequately secured so children and thieves cannot get their hands on it.

If you have a gun for hunting, then fair enough – that is your right under Canada’s laws.

If you own a gun for protection, you really need to ask: what are you scared of?

This is Central Alberta, not Detroit or Los Angeles.

The U.S. Supreme Court based much of its ruling on the principle of self-defence, but researchers have found the majority of firearms-related deaths are suicides (55 per cent).

Researchers have also discovered that homes where suicide occurs are three to five times more likely to have a gun than households that did not experience a suicide.

As well, people attempting suicide are much more likely to kill themselves if they have access to a gun.

U.S. studies have found that guns obtained from parents are frequently used in teen suicides.

Domestic disputes that result in murder occur more often in homes with guns, as well.

The murder rate in the U.S. is about 3.5 times higher than in Canada – largely because of the easier availability of guns.

The U.S. Supreme Court is free to make whatever rulings it likes, but it seems a shame that so many people with Ivy League educations have arrived at a decision that will result in more murders and suicides throughout America, and possibly even Canada.

Add to that an inevitable increase in children playing with guns dying needlessly and you have a truly tragic result.

Lee Giles is an Advocate editor.