D.C. Vote Amendment Would Repeal Gun Laws
D.C. Vote Amendment Would Repeal Gun Laws
By Mary Beth Sheridan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 25, 2009; 1:34 PM
A Nevada senator introduced an amendment today to the bill to give D.C. a voting member in Congress that tries to weaken the District's gun-control laws.
The D.C. Council has established "onerous and unconstitutional firearms regulations" for residents despite a Supreme Court decision overturning the city's ban on handgun ownership, Sen. John Ensign (R) said on the Senate floor.
His amendment would repeal the gun laws enacted by the city after the court decision last year.
Gun amendments are typically popular in Congress, raising the possibility the measure could succeed.
The amendment was offered during debate on the D.C. voting rights bill, which would add two seats to the House of Representatives: one for the heavily Democratic District, and the other for the next state in line to pick up an additional representative. For the next few years, that seat would go to Republican-leaning Utah.
A Senate vote on the D.C. bill could occur as early as tomorrow. After supporters of the bill won a procedural motion yesterday, the legislation proceeded to the floor. This is the first time in three decades that a D.C. voting rights bill is being considered by the Senate.
The House Judiciary Committee was scheduled to vote today on a similar bill, which would send it to the House floor.