Posted on 07/03/2005 9:51:59 PM PDT by SmithL
PARLIAMENTARIANS gathered in Washington this holiday weekend from Europe and North America arrived just in time to witness the U.S. House of Representatives -- on the eve of the anniversary commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence -- trample upon the right of self-determination. Morphing themselves into city council members, a House majority overturned a city law and voted to allow D.C. residents to keep in their homes loaded shotguns and rifles, as well as handguns bought before 1976, unbounded by trigger locks or disassembled. The deed itself makes a mockery of Congress as a federal body. If the action is allowed to stand, however, the consequences could be even worse: The nation's capital will become a deadlier place in which to live.
The gun safety law that the House voted to repeal makes all the sense in the world. It enjoys the full backing of the city's mayor, council, police chief and, most important of all, the city's residents. Perhaps residents and their leaders want the law on the books because they know, even if the House does not, that properly locked or secured guns help prevent gun violence and accidental shootings. Perhaps District residents support their gun safety laws because they now see crime in their city at a 20-year low. Perhaps they also resent this imposition of House judgment because District residents, through their elected leaders, are authorized under the Home Rule Act to make their own laws. But perhaps they are outraged most of all because they have no vote in Congress. At the very time that the House was telling Americans living in the District what their local laws should be, Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), the District's representative on Capitol Hill, had to stand by and watch
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I thought it was the US CONGRESS who passed the ban in the first place?
Wait a minute. If a gun ban is self-determination, allowing guns is not.
Huh??
What the hell is the post smoking
"Wait a minute. If a gun ban is self-determination, allowing guns is not."
The Compost is saying that the "people" of DC don't want the right to have firearms for self-defense. That is probably rubbish except for a few elected officials. I think it is a moot point anyway, since I think it was Congress who passed the ban. I could be wrong about that last part.
I usually support less gun control, for most Americans, but I do believe that there may be some people who are basically too stupid to own guns or sharp objects.'Nuff said.
Washington DC is not part of a direct democracy. The Constitution and the natural rights of man take precedence over the whims of people and pundit alike.
---a House majority overturned a city law and voted to allow D.C. residents to keep in their homes loaded shotguns and rifles, as well as handguns bought before 1976, unbounded by trigger locks or disassembled. ---
Except Washington Post employees.
All better.
Don't forget USPS employees!
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
The Post is therefore ignorant as a hoe handle on the subject of the Constitution. But that is no surprise.
Congressman Billybob
The Congress shall have power -- ... To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of the government of the United States...
HISTORY OF DC CODE Constitutional Provision
Ah. Not to worry. Just another part of that pesky Constitution getting in the way of what the lazy libs want to do in order to enslave the Post peons.
Thank you ;-)
I disagree that it is an "ignorance" thing- I believe that it is more a deliberate disinformation thing. After all, if a lie is repeated often enough, and loudly enough, then it becomes true. Or maybe just believed.
Banning guns to prevent killings is the same as preventing people from owning cars because they may have accidents.
or some similar crap to that effect - I dont remember the quote exactly.
So all in all, the Congress does a flip-flop and its in the name of Public Safety and For The Children.
Only on the planet where the editorial staff of the Washington Post live.
The fact is, here on planet Earth, the gubmint provides no (nor can it) protection to the law-abiding citizen. The anti-gun law in D.C. only disarms the law abiding citizen (by definition) and robs him of the power to defend himself.
I say the repeal is a giant step in the CORRECT direction!
So leftists think banning law-abiding citizens from owning guns equals "Democracy"?? Delusional elitists.
My bet is that crime will drop. ....and that the WA Post will fail to report it.
Well maybe a half-step in the right direction. Why not just get rid of 1976 ban on firearms in DC altogether?
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