D.C. Approves New Gun Laws

City Tries To Comply With Supreme Court Ruling Overturning Gun Ban

(AP)  The District of Columbia Council approved new firearms legislation Tuesday that will allow residents to begin applying for handgun permits this week.

The council's unanimous vote comes as officials try to comply with last month's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the city's 32-year-old ban on handguns.

The emergency legislation will allow handguns to be kept in the home if they are used only for self-defense and carry fewer than 12 rounds of ammunition.

Handguns, as well as other legal firearms such as rifles and shotguns, also must be kept unloaded and disassembled, or equipped with trigger locks - unless there is a "reasonably perceived threat of immediate harm" in the home.

"This is not perfect legislation," said D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson, who worked with the mayor's office on the bill. "The first step is what we have before us today so that we maintain important provisions in our gun registration law while we continue look at how we can further refine our gun registration law."

Gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association, said at least some of the new regulations will likely be challenged. The bill that passed Tuesday maintains the city's unusual ban of machine guns, defined as weapons that shoot at least 12 rounds without reloading, which applies to most semiautomatic firearms.

The emergency legislation will remain in effect for 90 days, and the council expects to begin work in September on permanent legislation.

Though residents can begin applying for handgun permits this week, city officials have said the entire process could take weeks or months.

"It depends on what your situation is - whether you owned the gun before or purchased it outside the District of Columbia," police Chief Cathy Lanier said.

The process involves a written exam, proof of residency and good vision. Successful applicants must pay a registration fee and agree to fingerprinting and a criminal background check before obtaining a weapon.

Even with Tuesday's vote, Washington's gun regulations will remain among the strictest in the country, said Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

He said Chicago, where it is illegal to possess or sell handguns, now has the toughest ordinance, though the city is facing a legal challenge following the Supreme Court ruling.

It remains to be seen how much of the district's new regulations will withstand constitutional challenges, Helmke said, adding that it could take years for the courts to sort it all out.

The Supreme Court's 5-4 decision June 26 that affirmed the right to have guns for self-defense "raised more questions than it's probably answered," Helmke said. "They haven't explained where you draw the line."

[cfin5]

Helmke said. "They haven''''t explained where you draw the line."

The Bill of Rights says any infringement is over the line. Any moron could read that.

Posted by my2centss at 06:46 PM : Jul 16, 2008---- That''s right! And also why they''re called politicians and we are not.

[my2centss]

Helmke said. "They haven''t explained where you draw the line."

The Bill of Rights says any infringement is over the line. Any moron could read that.

[billorights]

The Supreme Court majority decision on Heller states %u201Cthe requirement that any lawful firearm in the home be disassembled or bound by a trigger lock makes it impossible for citizens to use arms for the core lawful purpose of self-defense and is hence unconstitutional.%u201D

This latest DC legislation requires that %u201CHandguns, as well as other legal firearms such as rifles and shotguns, also must be kept unloaded and disassembled, or equipped with trigger locks %u2013 with the weasel clause stating %u201Cunless there is a "reasonably perceived threat of immediate harm" in the home.%u201D

Is this stated exception enough to allow this outright contradiction to the SC decision to avoid being overturned on constitutional grounds?

Is living in DC an adequate basis for a "reasonably perceived threat of immediate harm" in the home.%u201D?

Seems like it should be.

[jackp32]

The people of D.C. deserve what they get. They voted these idiots into power. If I was one of them, I would probably do what they are doing so that I could maintain control of the stupid masses. If I was someone who could think for themself, I would move out of D.C.

[beehive21-2009]

It''s the duty of the people ,oh ,DC is not a State no vote no representation ? What is DC a Federal reservation ? I''ll google it.

[patriot12436]

It seems they are trying to legislate the same laws they had before. It also sounds like the Mayor is worried about his local boys being shot. I thought you had to have a clean record to hold public office ? What happened to Barry''s record on drug charges ?

[kindrox]

* "reasonably perceived threat of immediate harm" in the home. *

Just how many people does this apply to? DC thinks they are above the law.

[impeach__w]

The emergency legislation will allow handguns to be kept in the home if they are used only for self-defense and carry fewer than 12 rounds of ammunition.
Handguns, as well as other legal firearms such as rifles and shotguns, also must be kept unloaded and disassembled, or equipped with trigger locks - unless there is a "reasonably perceived threat of immediate harm" in the home.


So does the gun have to hold less than 12 rounds or does it have to be un-loaded, disassembled and locked???
This is stupid. D.C. needs more guns, Lot''s more!

"If you take out the killings, Washington actually has a very very low crime rate." -- Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC

"The laws in this city are clearly racist. All laws are racist. The law of gravity is racist." -- Marion Barry, Mayor of Washington, DC

[sandy777-2009]

The Supreme Court''s 5-4 decision June 26 that affirmed the right to have guns for self-defense "raised more questions than it''s probably answered," Helmke said. "They haven''t explained where you draw the line."


All Helmke has to do is refer to the 2nd Amendment in the US Constitution and leave our constitutional right to bear arms alone.

[cfin5]

Now we enter the LOOPHOLE LAWYER phase,.....yay