What impact did the decision in DC v. Heller have related to McDonald v. Chicago?

The decision in DC v. Heller significantly impacted the ruling in McDonald v. Chicago by affirming that the Second Amendment rights extend to the states. In DC v. Heller, the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment guarantees an individual's right to possess a firearm for self-defense within the home, thus establishing a fundamental right protected against federal infringement.

Following this precedent, McDonald v. Chicago addressed whether this individual right to bear arms also applies to state and local governments through the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause. The Court held that the Second Amendment is incorporated by the Fourteenth Amendment, thereby extending the individual right recognized in Heller to prevent states from enacting laws that infringe upon the right to keep and bear arms. This marked a pivotal moment in gun rights jurisprudence, confirming that the rights established in Heller were not just applicable at the federal level but were also binding on the states. This connection highlights the evolving interpretation of the Second Amendment in the context of both federal and state regulations.