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D.C. Chapter of Million Mom March Condemns Federal Court Decision to Overturn City's Handgun Ban
Prompt response of Mayor Fenty and Congresswoman Norton demonstrates
leadership, widespread support for current law
WASHINGTON, March 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The District of
Columbia Chapter of the Million Mom March (MMM DC) is strongly opposed to
the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to overturn
the city's gun laws. The court declared the District's longstanding handgun
ban unconstitutional on Friday in a 2-1 decision in the case of Parker v.
District of Columbia. Provisions governing the safe storage of firearms in
the home were also overturned.
The decision marks the first time in history that a federal appeals
court has struck down a gun law on Second Amendment grounds. The majority
opinion directly contradicted Supreme Court precedent in the 1939 case of
U.S. v. Miller. There, the highest court in the land held that the
"possession or use" of a weapon must bear "some reasonable relationship to
the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia" to receive
Second Amendment protection.
"The court's decision deprives residents of the District the basic
right of self determination in determining their own public safety laws,"
said Million Mom March President Ladd Everitt. "This is 'judicial activism'
at its absolute worst."
Victim advocates focused on the human impact of the decision. "Because
of illegal gun trafficking, it's easy now for kids to get their hands on
guns in D.C.," said MMM DC Linking with Victims for Change Committee Chair
B.C. Tara Montgomery. "Why would we possibly want to make it easier?
Haven't we seen enough violence in this city already?"
The DC chapter thanks Mayor Adrian Fenty and Congresswoman Eleanor
Holmes Norton for their leadership and prompt action in opposing this
decision. "It's like Congresswoman Norton said," stated Everitt. "We have
fought off the National Rifle Association four times in the past to
preserve our gun laws and we will win this fight, too-together."
What started as one of the largest marches on Washington is now a
national network of 75 Chapters around the U.S. that work locally, yet
stand together, in their fight against gun violence and the devastation it
causes. As part of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, the Million
Mom March Chapters believe that all Americans have the right to be safe
from gun violence in their homes, neighborhoods, schools, and places of
work and worship.
SOURCE Million Mom March Chapters of Washington DC













