Norton Urges City to Continue Struggle to Save Gun Safety Laws in the Name of D.C. Residents

March 9, 2007

Washington, DC-Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the following statement inreaction to today's federal court decision striking down the District's gunban:

"The 2-1 court majority hasengaged in almost unprecedented overreaching to overturn the District's 30-yearold handgun ban. The decision creates a new individual right bystretching the Second Amendment and goes on to equate the Second Amendment withthe revered First Amendment that protects speech, press and religion. Judges are virtually instructed to decide cases on grounds that do notimplicate the Constitution, whenever possible. If the judges wereoffended by D.C.'s efforts to protect its citizens from handguns, there were anumber of narrower grounds that could have been used and almost always wouldhave been chosen on a principled basis by the court. I urge the city to seeka stay allowing our gun safety law to remain effective pending appeal. Ifa higher court chooses to allow this unprecedented decision to stand, the citynevertheless will be able to enact a handgun law almost as strict, that passesconstitutional inspection in my view.

"We are not intimidated by thiscourt's virtual partnership with the NRA. We have successfully foughtfour attempts by Congress to overturn the District's gun safety laws. Nogap in gun safety protections for the citizens of the District of Columbia must bepermitted."