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dc_dux · 03-10-2007, 10:33 PM

As a DC resident, my only surprise is that it took so long for a court to overturn this law. As a supporter of gun control, I had said that it was far to burdensome and restrictive. If DC were in a state, it would likely have been pre-empted by a state law, as has happend with most restrictive local gun control laws.

The written commentary by the majority judges..."that the Second Amendment is still "subject to the same sort of reasonable restrictions that have been recognized as limiting, for instance, the First Amendment" clearly recognizes that, in the opinion of the Court, some limitations are not unconstitutional, but DC's law went too far. A law requiring registration, a waiting period and child safety locks, rather than a total ban, would be much less likely to have been overturned.

As to its impact on crime in DC, there is no compelling evidence that I have seen on the impact of the law. Crime in DC has fluctuated in the last 30 years as a result of many factors....surges in drugs (particularly crack in the 80s-90s), immigration and the influx of Salvadoran gangs, police funding (crime dropped dramatically with the COPS program).

One impact of the gun law thath I believe is supportable (although I am sure some will challenge), has been a reduction in teen suicides and accidental gun deaths involving children ( I will have to find the study, but it applies, not only to DC, but to the states with more restrictive gun laws -- when there are fewer guns in the homes, there are fewer child suicides and accidental child shootings).

Most violent crime in DC is gang or drug related and, for the most part, is limited to certain wards in the city....although because it is the capital, when it affects tourists, government officials, etc., it becomes national news and the "homicide capital" misconception rears its head.

And, as to the mayor's comment about continuing to enforce the law, I am assuming the city will appeal to the Supreme Court and ask for a stay of the Appeals Court ruling until it is resolved at the highest level.....a common practice for many laws that are "overturned" at one level, but with appeals to a higher court still open.

03-10-2007, 10:33 PM	#11 (permalink)
dc_dux Location: Washington DC	As a DC resident, my only surprise is that it took so long for a court to overturn this law. As a supporter of gun control, I had said that it was far to burdensome and restrictive. If DC were in a state, it would likely have been pre-empted by a state law, as has happend with most restrictive local gun control laws. The written commentary by the majority judges..."that the Second Amendment is still "subject to the same sort of reasonable restrictions that have been recognized as limiting, for instance, the First Amendment" clearly recognizes that, in the opinion of the Court, some limitations are not unconstitutional, but DC's law went too far. A law requiring registration, a waiting period and child safety locks, rather than a total ban, would be much less likely to have been overturned. As to its impact on crime in DC, there is no compelling evidence that I have seen on the impact of the law. Crime in DC has fluctuated in the last 30 years as a result of many factors....surges in drugs (particularly crack in the 80s-90s), immigration and the influx of Salvadoran gangs, police funding (crime dropped dramatically with the COPS program). One impact of the gun law thath I believe is supportable (although I am sure some will challenge), has been a reduction in teen suicides and accidental gun deaths involving children ( I will have to find the study, but it applies, not only to DC, but to the states with more restrictive gun laws -- when there are fewer guns in the homes, there are fewer child suicides and accidental child shootings). Most violent crime in DC is gang or drug related and, for the most part, is limited to certain wards in the city....although because it is the capital, when it affects tourists, government officials, etc., it becomes national news and the "homicide capital" misconception rears its head. And, as to the mayor's comment about continuing to enforce the law, I am assuming the city will appeal to the Supreme Court and ask for a stay of the Appeals Court ruling until it is resolved at the highest level.....a common practice for many laws that are "overturned" at one level, but with appeals to a higher court still open. __________________ "The perfect is the enemy of the good." ~ Voltaire Last edited by dc_dux; 03-10-2007 at 11:03 PM..