Update #3: House of Reps Passes Bill to Restore 2nd Amendment Rights to DC Residents

The 11th hour actions by the DC City Council yesterday to remove some of the more restrictive regulations on handgun ownership were not enough to stop the pro-gun House of Representatives from passing a law that exercises their authority over the District. The Second Amendment Enforcement Act, an amendment to The National Capital Security and Safety Act, revokes the authority of DC to restrict the private ownership and use of firearms. It specifically and formally repeals the semi-automatic ban, the registration requirement, and the penalty for possessing an unregistered firearm. In addition, it allows the purchase of firearms from neighboring Virgina and Maryland.

Naturally, the anti-gunners are livid. The Washington Post was quick to editorialize:

The House voted yesterday to adopt a measure that would gut the District's gun laws and that goes far beyond the Supreme Court's finding this summer of an individual right to bear arms. The bill would prohibit the District from requiring that weapons be registered -- the most reasonable and benign of measures. It would allow ownership of semiautomatic handguns and rifles and would place no age restriction on gun possession. And it would effectively strip the District of the ability to enact any regulations that could be seen as unduly burdening gun ownership. If even registration is seen as unduly burdensome, that leaves little room and little hope for other reasonable provisions.

Honestly, the wrath of the anti-gun editors should be aimed squarely at the officials running the District of Columbia. Instead of using this "common sense" that is so frequently thrown around, they denied Constitutional rights to their citizens for over 30 years, even when murder and high crime skyrocketed. They wasted the taxpayers money in a drawn out court case in a futile effort to save political face and forced the hand of the Supreme Court. When the decision came down against them, they clearly made a poor effort at compliance, especially in regards to the spirit of the ruling. They must have been attempting to draw another law suit, because that is precisely what happened. Only once the House looked ready to strike did they suddenly see the light and decide to relax their legislation. I implore the editors to examine the facts. The District clearly had opportunities to enact 'common sense' laws, but this was never their intent. The intent has always been prohibition to the fullest extent and maximum control at any cost. Well, they exerted maximum control, and now have paid the ultimate cost. And the dividends will go to the free and law-abiding citizens of our nation's capitol.