Congress Agrees to Restore Gun Rights in D.C.

The NRA is reporting that it has reached a bipartisan compromise deal with Congress to restore gun rights in the District of Columbia.

In response to D.C.'s continued unwillingness to abide by the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court in the Heller decision, Congress has proposed, among other things, that D.C. drop its cumbersome registration process, allow semi-automatic handguns, and allow residents to purchase their guns in surrounding areas of Virginia and Maryland since there are no firearms dealers in the District.

The bill, called the Second Amendment Enforcement Act, has received the support of a broad range of elected officials in both Parties, including powerful Democrats such as John Dingell.

Since Nancy Pelosi adjourned the House today even before any action was taken on the much-needed lifting of the ban on offshore oil drilling, it is assumed that the D.C. bill will be taken up by Congress when the Representatives return from their lengthy vacation.

Second Amendment News Roundup for 7/30/08

Focusing on guns, politics, and news of interest, here is today's Second Amendment News Roundup:

From Codrea's War on Guns:
*Olofson Incarceration Update
*Comedy icon Jerry Lewis was detained in Vegas for having a handgun
*A school in Texas will require prison-like jumpsuits for its students

Mike McCarville has today's MUST-read on U.S. Congressman Tom Cole's statement on preserving Second Amendment rights.

Pamela Geller at Atlas Shrugs has a major op-ed featured in an Israeli newspaper, Israel National News.

Geller also posts a follow-up to the continually-developing story on Obama's anonymous overseas donors and other bizarre illegal activity.

Michelle Malkin reports the late-breaking news that Israeli Prime Minister Olmert has resigned. Good! He has been almost as bad for Israel as Hamas.

Say Uncle has some very appropriate words for morons and totalitarian morons who are mouthing off about the Fairness Doctrine and more gun control in light of the church shooting. Read it all.

Sebastian posts a quote from Barack Obama that seems to endorse the idea of reparations for slavery.

Breda has a video that she entitles, 'Politics for Idiots.' Yep.

The Stiletto posts today's edition of her always-interesting 'The Daily Blade.'

Gateway Pundit has a late-breaking update on the John Edwards-mistress-love child scandal, and says that Edwards paid hush money to his mistress.

Gateway also shows us that all of the Obama-worship has gone to the candidate's head. Just wait till you see what he told a group of Congressional Democrats...about himself!

Gunservatively has an interesting read entitled, 'Predatory Borrowers and Reckless Homeowners.'

Blogstitution provides good commentary on the end of journalism as we know it.

Gun Law News reports that there is significant movement in Congress today to restore Second Amendment rights to D.C.

The Western Rifle Shooters Association has essential reading by Mike Vanderboegh that provides some answers to the question, what good is a handgun against an army?

Walls of the City gives us an update on his concealed handgun spreadsheet.

Bloviating Zeppelin has a MUST-read on 'the religion of peace.'

John Lott reports the good news that Students for Concealed Carry is having its first National Convention on August 1.

The Revolver vs. Semi-Auto Gun Phenom in D.C.

Fresh from its stinging defeat by the U.S. Supreme Court which struck down its gun ban, the District of Columbia quickly put together a new set of local laws governing the issuing of handgun permits.

Perhaps D.C. should have taken a bit longer to implement those new ordinances.

D.C. has specified that in its massive gun registration drive, which it began Thursday morning, that it would only place revolvers under consideration, not semi-automatic handguns.

But semi-automatic handguns are the most popular guns of choice for the millions of Americans who wish to protect themselves easily, cheaply, and expediently.

Nowhere in the Supreme Court ruling did the justices specify a type of handgun that was 'unacceptable.'

No doubt revolvers are wonderful and have stood the test of time. They are less likely to jam and encounter some of the other problems inherent in semi-automatic models.

But they have definite limitations.

In a home invasion involving multiple perpetrators, the limited firing capacity of a revolver may mean the death of the homeowner. With a semi-automatic, the frantic victim can fire off round after round without having to worry about reloading before the thugs are stopped.

To gunnies I am aware this is beneath elementary stuff. But to those who are not into the whys and wherefores of self-defense, these commonsense facts may be elusive. In other words, when it comes to personal protection and safety, the revolver vs. semi-auto issue is a major consideration.

Supposedly Mr. Heller showed up to apply for his license without bringing his handgun with him. D.C. wants to do 'a ballistics test' on each gun it approves.

But this is beside the point. The point is that D.C. has absolutely no legal basis for which to deny citizens the right to purchase, register, and use the handgun of their choice, whether it be semi-automatic or not.