Judges can't give gun rights to felons Supreme Court's ruling backs action taken by Congress

WASHINGTON--A unanimous Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that federaljudges have no independent authority to restore a felon's ability topossess firearms.

The ruling reinforces a move by Congress to block felons'applications for gun privileges by cutting off the funds forbackground investigations by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco andFirearms.

Under U.S. law, a person convicted of a felony is barred frompossessing firearms. But the law also allows the Treasury secretaryto lift that prohibition if a felon can show he is not "dangerous topublic safety."

Since 1992, however, Congress has prevented the ATF, whichconducts the screening, from using funds to process …