DC Brings 2nd Amendment Challenge to the Supremes

This will be interesting. DC is appealing a recent court decision that struck down DC's 30-year handgun ban. The law makes it illegal for DC residents to have handguns in their homes. I agree with the appellate court that this ban is unconstitutional, violating the second amendment, which says:

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.

Some say this amendment only applies to "militias," in my view, "the right of the people" wording and legal precedent at the time the Bill of Rights was passed which was that individuals could be legally armed suggests otherwise.

At any rate, how has the handgun ban been working out? You can see the map of DC and murders between 2004-2006 below, courtesy of Wikipedia. The red or solid dots were killings committed by guns.

"Get a Gun"

I found it ironic to learn that the lawsuit to overturn DC's handgun ban started with the words "Get a gun." Uttered by a DC police officer to a woman fearing her own safety in her home.

It reminded me that those same words were said to me by a DC police detective after a rash of break-ins in my hood a few years back. Freelance socialists were breaking into the garages along my street. After one night when the thugs hit about five garages, including mine, the police and our neighbors converged in a huddle. One of my neighbors -- an elderly gentleman -- asked how he could protect his home. The detective -- a 3rd district detective in a ridiculous fedora and raincoat (where was the cigar?) -- advised us to get a gun.

This is clearly counter to the official DC police line, which loves the gun ban. Personally, I am pro-second amendment rights. It's just surprising to hear the police advise citizens to do something illegal, not to mention admitting, essentially, "we can't help you, so take the law into your own hands."

That attitude -- let the citizens and the thugs shoot it out and we'll come along and collect the bodies -- is the real threat to safety and security in the city.

In the meantime, I won't say whether or not we took the detective's advice.

But don't tread on me.