Bob Barr Blasts District of Columbia, D.C. for Flouting Heller Decision on Gun Control

Statement

Bob Barr Blasts District of Columbia, D.C. for Flouting Heller Decision on Gun Control

"Citizens of Washington, D.C. and firearms rights organizations must be prepared to file a quick and clear challenge to the new Washington, D.C. gun control law designed to keep them disarmed," says Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party candidate for president. "The City Council is attempting to flout the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Heller that explicitly affirmed an individual's right to own firearms. The Council is disingenuously doing this by appearing to legalize gun ownership while restricting the right into ineffectiveness."

For instance, explains Barr, "the District of Columbia will continue to ban semi-automatic weapons, the most common kind of handgun in America. Moreover, residents will be required to keep their guns unloaded and either disassembled or disabled with a trigger lock. Unfortunately, most criminals aren't going to give homeowners the courtesy of waiting for them to make their weapons operational before striking."

In contrast, the Chicago suburbs of Morton Grove and Wilmette are moving to eliminate their handgun bans in response to suits filed by firearms advocacy organizations including the National Rifle Association, on whose board Barr sits. "It may be for only tactical political purposes, but these two communities are showing a willingness to comply with the law of the land lacking in Washington, D.C.," observes Barr. "It has long been said that the price of liberty is eternal vigilance. As Washington, D.C.'s latest attack on gun owners demonstrates, that remains the case even after the Supreme Court rules in your favor."

"Heller is merely the first step in the battle to protect our constitutional right to own firearms. All Americans have a stake in ensuring enforcement of this most fundamental guarantee of individual liberty and limited government," says Barr.

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