Norton Expects Rules Committee to Reject Dangerous Gun Amendment Overriding D.C. Law Today

Norton Expects Rules Committee to Reject Dangerous Gun Amendment Overriding D.C. Law Today

November 14, 2011

Washington, DC—The Office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced that the House Rules Committee is expected to consider an amendment filed by Representative Timothy Johnson (R-IL) and four other Republicans today, November 14, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. in H-313, the Capitol, to the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011 (H.R. 822). The amendment would allow people with state-issued concealed carry permits to carry concealed guns in jurisdictions that prohibit concealed carry, including the District of Columbia. H.R. 822 as it currently stands only would allow people with concealed carry permits to carry concealed guns in other jurisdictions that allow concealed carry, but not in those jurisdictions that prohibit concealed carry.

Last month, the House Judiciary Committee defeated by 3-24 Representative Louie Gohmert's (R-TX) amendment to H.R. 822 that would have created a unique exception to allow out-of-state residents to carry concealed guns in the District, notwithstanding D.C.'s prohibition on carrying concealed guns, but not in the other jurisdictions that prohibit concealed carry.

Norton expects the new amendment, like the Gohmert amendment, to be defeated to preserve the pretense that H.R. 822 protects states' rights by not requiring jurisdictions that prohibit concealed carry to permit it.

"This amendment, like the Gohmert amendment and the pending D.C. gun bill (H.R. 645), shows that Republicans will not rest until they overturn D.C.'s local gun laws, which were recently upheld by a federal appeals court," Norton said. "Likewise, D.C. residents will not rest in the fight to preserve their home rule and public safety laws."