DC Handgun Ban
Washington, which at one point had been called the "murder capital of the United States" because of peaked crime rate in the 90s, many feel needed the handgun ban to keep crime down.
The ban against handgun ownership in DC was passed in 1976. It was put in place by local elected officials who thought it would better protect its citizens. The law requires resident to keep shotguns and rifles unloaded and disassembled or fitted with trigger locks.
Some say that this law has done nothing in terms of reducing violence. People still find a way to possess guns legally through the district or illegally.
The homicide rate in DC has declined since its peak in the 90s but it still ranks high on the national crime rate list. In 2006 the district had a total of 169 killings.
District of Columbia v. Heller
A Security guard is asking the courts to declare Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban an unconstitutional infringement of his Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. His lawyer, says the constitution protects his right to keep a handgun at home for self defense.
On the other side the lawyer for the District of Columbia says the Second Amendment protects a collective right to use only those guns needed to provide for the common defense as part of a state militia. The amendment does not protect a right to use guns for self defense at home.
The Second Amendment
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. "
The Hearing
The Justices' met for more than an hour and a half , Tuesday March 18 2008, to discuss the meaning of the second amendment for the first time in 70 years.
The trial brought out a slew of DC residents many of which waited in a line wrapped around the corner of the Supreme Court just to hear the arguments. Those who didn't get in rallied outside chanting and flailing signs.
No comments:
Post a Comment