The New D.C. “May Issue” Law
BY Herschel Smith
10 years, 1 month ago
Is D.C. finally finished fighting the supreme and appeals courts and the constitution of the United States?
Within weeks, civilian gun owners could be free to apply to carry a concealed weapon in the nation’s capital for the first time in decades, after a federal judge’s ruling prompted city leaders to create new firearms law.
The proposed law, set to be unveiled at a Wednesday afternoon news conference, was drafted by city officials after the city’s long-standing ban on carrying firearms in public was declared unconstitutional in July.
D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D), who played a lead role in developing the gun-carry proposal and spoke about it ahead of the news conference, said the emergency legislation put together in recent weeks will be scheduled for a council vote on Tuesday.
The bill, Mendelson said, will permit city residents who own duly registered handguns and non-residents who hold state carrying licenses to apply to the D.C. police for a concealed carry permit. So-called open carry, such as the wearing of a weapon in a holster, will not be allowed under the proposed law, he said.
D.C. carry permits will be issued on a “may carry” basis, giving great discretion to D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier on who will be allowed to carry firearms in the city. Applicants will have to state a reason for seeking a permit, Mendelson said.
So things are not so well in D.C. after all. “May issue” states become no issue states in practice unless they are forced by law to be otherwise. The wealthy, politically connected and powerful get their permits, while others have to demonstrate why they need one to the approval of the top cop, as if self defense isn’t good enough and the constitution doesn’t speak loudly enough on the issue.
There is more from The Washington Times: “People who have a “good reason” to feel threatened — for example, stalking victims — would be able to seek a concealed carry permit for a legally owned handgun under a new D.C. law proposed Thursday. But those with generalized fears, such as apprehension about living in a neighborhood with high crime, would not be considered eligible for such a permit, officials say.”
I sense yet another court case – or cases – coming for D.C. Apparently they haven’t given up being totalitarians. They like their control and aren’t ready to share it yet.
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On September 18, 2014 at 8:27 am, Paul B said:
You only gain control of totalitarians from their cold dead hands. The will grudgingly relinquish their gains at best.
On September 19, 2014 at 9:47 am, Mark Crist said:
It will be interesting to see if the law will be acceptable to the court. Perhaps there will be a challenge similar to Peruta vs. San Diego County. They can complain all they want about being “special” because they are the seat of governmental power, but it boils down to the fact they are also “special” in regards to having the highest levels of violent crime in the nation.
Its fairly obvious that the gun control policy currently in place isn’t working. Maintaining the status quo and expecting the outcome to change isn’t a coherent choice.