Carlos Serrano-Restrepo, an immigrant residing in Ohio, made a compelling argument in court that his extensive arsenal of 170 firearms, which included a powerful .50-caliber Barrett sniper rifle and several AR-style rifles, served solely for self-defense purposes and were thus protected by the Second Amendment.
According to WSYX, a federal judge dismissed his argument, stating that individuals who are in the U.S. unlawfully do not possess constitutional rights to own firearms.
Serrano-Restrepo, who came to the U.S. illegally in 2008, has been living as a taxpaying member of society, with a Social Security number and work authorization card. However, despite his successful integration into the community and his establishment of a thriving business, the court ruled that his lack of legal status prevents him from owning a gun.
Judge Edmund Sargus highlighted the importance of historical precedent when it comes to firearm restrictions for individuals who have not sworn allegiance to the United States. He pointed out that the framers of the Constitution did not anticipate undocumented immigrants owning weapons.
Serrano-Restrepo was charged by federal authorities for illegally possessing firearms, as he was found to have purchased more than 90 firearms within a span of less than a year.
According to the ruling by Sargus, his asylum application, which was submitted in 2022, does not provide him with the same legal protections given to naturalized citizens.
