Alfonso Lopez Jr.
Definition
Alfonso Lopez Jr. was involved in an important Supreme Court case (United States v. Lopez) where he challenged his conviction for carrying a gun into school under a federal statute - The Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990.
Analogy
Imagine you're playing an online video game with rules set by its creators but you break one rule thinking it doesn't apply because you're playing from your own house. Alfonso Lopez Jr.'s case was similar; he argued that since his actions were local (bringing gun to school), they shouldn't be regulated by national (federal) rules.
Related terms
Commerce Clause: A provision of the U.S Constitution giving Congress power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among states.
Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990: A United States act banning possession of firearms in designated school zones; it was challenged in United States v. Lopez.
United States v. Lopez: A Supreme Court case that served as a turning point in Commerce Clause jurisprudence, limiting Congress's power under the clause.
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