'Beyond awful': Internet ridicules Justice Clarence Thomas for disagreeing with Supreme Court's gun ruling

WASHINGTON, DC: The Supreme Court on Friday, June 21, overwhelmingly upheld the constitutionality of a federal ban on gun ownership by individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders.

The decision was made with an eight-one vote with Justice Clarence Thomas as the lone dissenter.

Justice Clarence Thomas argues court need not to decide if a person should be disarmed

In his dissent, Justice Thomas argued that stripping a domestic abuser’s right to own a gun pursuant to a protective order was a due process violation.

He described it as “an automatic, uncontestable consequence of certain orders.”  Thomas says the statute lacks a hearing or opportunity to contest its applicability.

“There is no hearing or opportunity to be heard on the statute’s applicability, and a court need not decide whether a person should be disarmed under §922(g)(8),” Thomas wrote.

“The only process §922(g)(8) requires is that provided (or not) for the underlying restraining order," The Daily Beast reported. 

Justice Clarence Thomas argues the decision puts at risk the Second Amendment right

Justice Thomas further argued that the Second Amendment acts as “a barrier, placing the right to keep and bear arms off limits to the Government.”

“The Framers and ratifying public understood ‘that the right to keep and bear arms was essential to the preservation of liberty.’ Yet, in the interest of ensuring the Government can regulate one subset of society, today’s decision puts at risk the Second Amendment rights of many more. I respectfully dissent," he elaborated.

His dissent is a striking change as he authored the Supreme Court’s expanded Second Amendment test two years ago, known as Bruen, that was at the center of Friday’s case. 

That test requires gun regulations to fit within the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation, according to The Hill. 

Internet reacts to justice Clarence Thomas' DC dissent against gun ruling 

Reactions on the internet are mixed but those against his decision harshly criticized Justice Thomas.

One user on X wrote, "Clarence Thomas is absolute trash. I don’t know which one is worse, him or Alito."

Another user commented, "He's clearly the most unqualified justice on SCOTUS," while another added, "He is beyond compromised at this point."

"This guy is so bought and paid for. Makes me sick. Domestic abusers deserve nothing," was one comment and another read, "Clarence is clearly a misogynist."  "He is beyond awful and irredeemable," wrote one. 

Despite the overwhelming backlash, some individuals defended Thomas's decision.

One commenter explained, "Actually his opinion is that more than an accusation is required to deprive a citizen of his 2nd Amendment rights. A conviction is sufficient for Thomas. Be fair and read his dissent."

Another supporter wrote, "But the greatest justice of all time didn’t fall for it. Thomas, solid as always." A third supporter added, "America needs a Supreme Court full of judges that rule like Clarence Thomas. Actually every judge should rule like Justice Thomas."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.