Perhaps the quote made more sense in context. But if the judge meant what it sounds like she meant, one can only hope that the attorney for the gun manufacturers was able to educate her that it has been well-settled U.S. law for over 200 years that Congress has broad discretion to change the rule of decision affecting cases on appeal. “[I]f subsequent to the judgment and before the decision of the appellate court, a law intervenes and positively changes the rule which governs, the law must be obeyed . . . .” U.S. v. Schooner Peggy, 5 U.S. 103, 110 (1801).