Update #2: DC Council Eases Handgun Restrictions

A recent update from the Washington Post reveals that the DC City Council has voted unanimously to ease some of the more burdensome restrictions of firearms ownership that have existed since June's Heller Decision. Mayor Fenty has signed the legislation, which takes effect immediately. This emergency measure by the council allows the possession of semi-automatic handguns, removes the mandatory ballistics test by the DCPD, and removes the safe-storage law that made it mandatory to keep the firearm locked and unloaded when not in immediate danger. It is amazing what a little Supreme Court affirmation of our natural rights can do! Of course, looming lawsuits and an approaching rebuke from the House of Representatives might have had a lot to do with the relatively quick compliance. Your NRA dollars were at work on both of those fronts, and are not to be overlooked either.

"I implore the Congress to give this body, this mayor and this city an opportunity to find a solution," said D.C. Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray (D), moments before the council voted without debate to end storage requirements for firearms and permit ownership of semiautomatic handguns.

"There's every reason to believe we're moving in the direction of a responsible solution," Gray declared.

It is equally amazing to hear anti-gun democrats in perhaps the least gun-friendly city in America talking about commonsense solutions to firearms issues - and those solutions are about more freedom and not more restrictions! It seems as though regardless of these positive steps, the House could still pass legislation stripping the District of their ability to regulate firearms in any manner. Measures in the House bill that the City Council did not address include allowing DC residents to purchase handguns from neighboring Virginia and Maryland as well as allowing the ownership of semi-automatic rifles.

Aside: I was reading the coverage of this story on Reason.com as well, and the reader comments show an interesting point of view not covered in any of the MSM articles. The idea is that DC is doing this to placate the House, and once the issue is forgotten and/or the makeup of Congress changes, they will simply re-instate the restrictions.