DC doesn't give a damn about the Second Amendment

[News Shooter]

DC tightens gun rules after landmark court ruling


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The District of Columbia Council passed more regulations for gun owners Tuesday, months after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the city's 32-year-old handgun ban.

Among other things, the bill requires gun owners to register their weapons every three years and receive training by a certified firearms instructor.

"This bill will be, I think, one of the most progressive registration laws in the country," Council member Phil Mendelson said.

The National Rifle Association accused the city of forcing residents to jump through unnecessary hurdles, thereby undermining the intent of the Supreme Court's ruling in June that affirmed the right of Americans to keep guns in the home for self defense.

"The D.C. Council continues to try to make it harder and harder for law-abiding citizens to access this freedom," NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said.

In September, the House passed an NRA-backed bill that would have essentially stripped the city of its ability to regulate firearms, but the measure died in the Senate.

D.C. leaders say they are trying to be respectful of the Supreme Court case while doing everything they can to enact strict gun control measures in a city where gun violence is common.

"No constitutional right is absolute, nor is this right to possess a gun in the home for self defense," said councilwoman Mary Cheh, a law professor at George Washington University.

Since the handgun ban was overturned, the council has passed legislation allowing residents to own most semiautomatic pistols while banning magazines capable of firing more than 10 rounds. Registration also is limited to one pistol a month, and gun owners face prosecution if they fail to keep loaded weapons away from children.

Tuesday's bill builds on those regulations. It requires gun owners to spend at least one hour at the firing range and four hours in the classroom with an instructor before registration. The bill also requires a criminal background check for gun owners every six years.

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[Skald]

Going to be an interesting Round 2.

 

[Big Daddy 45acp]

"This bill will be, I think, one of the most progressive registration laws in the country," Council member Phil Mendelson said.

Progressive=Repressive

"No constitutional right is absolute, nor is this right to possess a gun in the home for self defense," said councilwoman Mary Cheh, a law professor at George Washington University.

I think our founding fathers would beg to differ.

 

[EddieCoyle]

The nation's Capitol is a shithole. It's embarrassing.

 

[Yelena]

Why doesn't it surprise me?

 

[Yelena]

The nation's Capitol is a shithole. It's embarrassing.

I'd been in Washington, DC once. Will never go there again.

 

[appraiser]

Sounds like MA, and from what I see it's all constitutional.

 

[Raoul Duke]

what the f*** is wrong with these people?

 

[JonJ]

"Reasonable restrictions", nothing more. Get used to it.

 

[Yelena]

"Reasonable restrictions", nothing more. Get used to it.

Should we get used to being f***ed, if someone wants to f*** us?

 

[gene]

"Reasonable restrictions", nothing more. Get used to it.

Nope! Not Gonna get used to it and will continue in anyway possible to fight them.

 

[Bob P]

"No constitutional right is absolute, nor is this right to possess a gun in the home for self defense," said councilwoman Mary Cheh, a law professor at George Washington University.

Wow. Shakespere may have been right.[sad2]

 

[GSG]

The nation's Capitol is a shithole. It's embarrassing.

I'd go there and complain personally, but I'm afraid that I'd get killed in the middle of my visit.

 

[BOBKATT]

Richmond VA would have made a far better capital city for the country the way our forefathers intended it.

 

[MasterShinken]

I find it funny (sad) that with the statement "where guns were banned.... gun crimes are common" and yet they don't see the connection...

 

[OnTheRoad]

"reasonable"..."sensible"..."progressive"... this kind of "newspeak" makes me want to puke, or throttle someone, or both.

 

[theGringo]

Progressives are getting big balls, now that President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama is set to take office. They will transform the Supreme Court, and the rest of the Frederal judiciary.

The "progressives", which is what American Socialists call themselves, are aiming to eliminate the electoral college in favor of direct election, admit as many foriegners into the country as possible and fasttrack them to citizenship, nationalize all major industries, silence all opposition, and make invitable a permanent left-wing Democratic Party.

The Heller decision left these people a huge avenue to undermine the Second Amendment, and they will take maximum advantage of it. The press will cheer them on.

Our Constitutional Republic ended on November 4. It's time to leave.

 

[JonJ]

Our Constitutional Republic ended on November 4. It's time to leave.

Or....

 

[BOBKATT]

Our Constitutional Republic ended on November 4. It's time to leave.

Where can you go?

 

[clinotus]

"No constitutional right is absolute, nor is this right to possess a gun in the home for self defense," said councilwoman Mary Cheh, a law professor at George Washington University.

Not really sure, what, if anything can be stated about her free from persecution statement, being read in the press, or that she might speak aloud.

 

[Geoff C]

Wonder how much it costs to register and re-certify every 3 years. What a joke.

 

[Garys]

"No constitutional right is absolute, nor is this right to possess a gun in the home for self defense," said councilwoman Mary Cheh, a law professor at George Washington University.

IANAL, but I would swear that the Supreme Court said that there is a right to possess firearms in the home for self defense.

This will end up back in court again and again.

 

[theGringo]

Or....

Rise up.

 

[theGringo]

Where can you go?

Leave the union. Seceed. Now.

 

[freedom2012]

I am so f***ing sick of Liberals.

Sooner or later the last straw will break in this country, and its looking like sooner.

 

[In_God_We_Trust]

"This bill will be, I think, one of the most progressive registration laws in the country," Council member Phil Mendelson said.

What we've got here is....failure to communicate...

 

[Bando_Red]

How come whenever I say I'm scared shitless that we're gonna lose our guns,everyone says I'm overreacting and to calm down?

 

[meth0d]

No constitutional right is absolute

WHAT?!!!??!?!?! What the f*** is wrong with her??!??!

 

[GSG]

Leave the union. Seceed. Now.

IIRC Montana said they would if the Supreme Court didn't vote the way they did on Heller.

 

[mark056]

Good People of this Forum:

What do you honestly expect? We are no longer a nation of law(s). My friends it is going to get worse for us, much worse and the tragedy is that there is absolutely no place to go. Oh sure, you can move to a "gun friendly" state, but how long is that going to last? The truth of the matter is that some of those "gun friendly" states voted for the President-Elect and others are being overrun by an influx of people from places like California or (gasp) Massachusetts.

Where would you move abroad? I cannot think of one country today that has gun laws that are favorable. Yes, there are a few that seem gun-friendly (gun tolerant would be a better term) but they have very restrictive immigration laws and you have to be wealthy to move there or have a really desirable skill (we're not all neurosurgeons).

What has been considered unthinkable is beginning to germinate among certain segments of the population, however I doubt seriously that a major reformation of the existing govermental structure can or will be successfully effected should that option be implemented by a few simply because the zeitgeist of our era precludes that. Collectively we have come to accept government as the font of all security. It may very well be that harsh economic conditions might be a catalyst that could bring about change, but I seriously doubt it. As long as the government provides bread and circuses for the masses, they will not necessarily be content but will be complacent.

The best option in my opinion is to keep fighting within the existing governmental structure. If we do so, we can fight a series of successive delaying actions for most of our lifetimes (mine, probably for sure) that will assure some form of firearms ownership in the near future. What we cannot do, is ensure that our children or our children's children will enjoy the same degree of freedom that we do, nor can we assure that they will even enjoy the same standard of living that we do unless we are among those who are wealthy as the leveling of the middle class will eventually create a two class system, not three. If you think that that cannot or will not happen, kindly consider the number of people who will be ruined this time out and will never enjoy a middle class life again, as a result of the current economic crisis. Not everyone will bounce back. Many of you enjoy a fairly decent lifestyle because you pursue occupations in high-tech, but beware, because your replacements are already being groomed in China, India or God knows where else. (Lest you think not, let's look at our collective interest firearms: Who would have thought a decade ago that one of the hottest and apparently best pistols on the market today is made in Croatia, f---ing Croatia ! ).

I'm glad to see that Heller was favorable for us, but I don't see the opposition withering and going away, and now they have the upper hand in so many aspects of our lives. Still, I don't think that much will change in the next four or eight years, but it's when Heller is overturned and a lot of other decisions are made by a Supreme Court composed of members appointed by the now President-elect that we really have to worry.

We must continue, we cannot give up, but let's not kid ourselves, the balance of history does not weigh in our favor.

Respectfully,

Mark L.