On Tuesday’s NewsHour…

SUPREME COURT CONSIDERS GUN BANS – The U.S. Supreme Court heard an important argument today over state and local gun regulations. The case involves a handgun ban in Chicago and tests a 2008 decision outlawing the gun law in Washington DC and the Second Amendment. Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal describes and analyzes the events in the courtroom.

CHILE QUAKE – Margaret Warner reports on the situation in Chile, where the dead toll and damage tally is mounting.

SENATE HARDBALL – Then, a look at why Republican Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY) is filibustering the Senate’s effort to pass a bill that temporarily extends unemployment insurance, funds highway projects and a host of other provisions. James Carroll of USA Today explains Bunning’s tactic and the political implications.

AFGHANISTAN – We’ll have a report from southern Afghanistan on the military’s offensive against the Taliban.

POST OFFICE CUTBACKS – Jeffrey Brown reports on the post office’s troubled finances and talks with Ed O’Keefe of the Washington Post, and Stanford University’s Frank Wolak about the future of mail.

AMERICA’S RISE AND FALL– Finally, Paul Solman talks with historian Paul Kennedy about the rise and fall of the U.S. and other great powers.

WEB-ONLY – Hari Sreenivasan gives a tour of new and related features on the site, including: an interview with Politico’s Jeanne Cummings about President Obama’s speech Wednesday; Paul Solman’s Making Sen$e of the economy; Art Beat’s visit to an exhibit paying homage to Elvis Presley at the National Potrait Gallery; and FRONTLINE’S report on assisted suicide in Switzerland.

Jim Lehrer and Jeffrey Brown host the program tonight, we hope you’ll join us.