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Washington, DC, AKA, Deadly Carry
Author: Raine    Date: 08/27/2015 13:18:51

We have had some rather unsettling headlines lately in our nation's capitol city. Things like this: D.C. homicide rate reaches 103, some residents on edge

The Metropolitan Police depart keeps daily stats.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/raine1967/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-27%20at%208.45.09%20AM.png


Following the 2008 District of Columbia V. Heller decision which stated in part,
The Supreme Court struck down provisions of the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 as unconstitutional, determined that handguns are "arms" for the purposes of the Second Amendment, found that the Regulations Act was an unconstitutional ban, and struck down the portion of the Regulations Act that requires all firearms including rifles and shotguns be kept "unloaded and disassembled or bound by a trigger lock." "Prior to this decision the Firearms Control Regulation Act of 1975 also restricted residents from owning handguns except for those registered prior to 1975."



After Heller, DC passed new gun control laws, and the homicide rates continued to decline in the city.

And, although the Supreme Court's decision adopted the broader, individual-rights interpretation of the Second Amendment, the Court also made it clear that the right to own a gun continues to have a number of significant qualifications or restrictions, including:

Not everyone can own a gun. The right does not extend to felons or the mentally ill.
Guns cannot be carried everywhere. Laws forbidding individuals from carrying firearms in "sensitive" places, such as schools and government buildings, will probably stand.
Certain restrictions on the sale of guns are allowed. Laws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of firearms will most likely stand.
Individuals do not have the right to carry certain types of guns. The right does not protect guns that are not generally owned for lawful purposes, such as short-barreled shotguns. Just what kind of handguns may be possessed is not explicitly set forth in the opinion (apart from the one specific reference to sawed-off shotguns, which are not allowed). The Court did endorse the "the historical tradition of prohibiting the carrying of 'dangerous and unusual weapons,'" but did not state whether such weapons include assault weapons or semi-automatic weapons.
Concealed weapons. Laws forbidding people to carry concealed weapons on their person (or in a place close at hand, such as the glove compartment of a car) probably remain valid.
Sentence enhancements. A variety of criminal laws provide for increased punishment of offenders who use weapons when committing a crime. Heller does not affect the validity of these laws.
And life went on.

Then last year, a federal judge overturned DC's handgun laws.
Based on previous court rulings striking down gun laws in D.C., Chicago and elsewhere, “there is no longer any basis on which this Court can conclude that the District of Columbia’s total ban on the public carrying of ready-to-use handguns outside the home is constitutional under any level of scrutiny,” Scullin wrote in his 19-page decision, which was unsealed on Saturday.
“Therefore, the Court finds that the District of Columbia’s complete ban on the carrying of handguns in public is unconstitutional.”

The case against D.C., which is the only jurisdiction to ban people from carrying handguns in public, was brought by several people who tried to obtain permits for carrying a weapon but were denied.

Scullin’s ruling in Palmer v. District of Columbia will prevent police from enforcing the law, at least for the time being.
Shorty after that decision, DC decided to drop its appeals.

And here we are, with 103 homicides in DC.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y59/raine1967/Screen%20Shot%202015-08-27%20at%208.44.59%20AM.png


Tell me again how stricter gun control is ineffective in slowing down murders?

Now I will admit that the Mayor and Chief have made it clear that the influx of the guns in the city are being brought in from surrounding states. That doesn't excuse the gutting of city laws about guns. With the NRA fanning the flames of fear about guns being taken away, is it any surprise that Congress is proposing just that?. The NRA is asking that tourists that visit the city be allowed to bring in guns.

Despite these rulings, the NRA contends that the strict gun laws in Washington, D.C., make it all but impossible for people to carry firearms around the city.

Twenty-one residents have qualified for concealed carry permits in Washington, D.C., according to the police department.
"They want to be more restrictive than they’re allowed to be under the Constitution, which is the problem,” an NRA official told The Hill. “They’re not looking to make it reasonable for law-abiding citizens and difficult for criminals. They’re making it difficult across the board.”

But the new Republican legislation could change that.

The Second Amendment Enforcement Act would expand the city’s concealed carry laws, making it easier for residents and tourists from other states to legally carry firearms in Washington, D.C.

"A lot of American tourists visit Washington, D.C. They want to view the Capitol and the museums, but they also want to be safe," the NRA official said.


Gun laws are an effective deterrent. What is happening in the District right now is proof that repealing laws sends the message to people that anyone can do anything anytime. The result: 103 homicides so far in this year.

Feel safer now?


Raine
 

22 comments (Latest Comment: 08/27/2015 19:55:51 by Mondobubba)
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Comment by wickedpam on 08/27/2015 13:34:17
Morning

The NRA sickens and angers me on so many levels. They empower cowardly, selfish and fearful people and bully the majority that wants logical and safe control on weapons in our society.

Comment by TriSec on 08/27/2015 14:03:55
Guns fix everything, who are you kidding?

Comment by wickedpam on 08/27/2015 14:28:58
NRA brainwashing

Comment by BobR on 08/27/2015 14:33:19
Quote by TriSec:
Guns fix everything, who are you kidding?

Jesus carried an AK-47 while riding a dinosaur.

Comment by Raine on 08/27/2015 14:34:59
Via our State delegate, Rob Krupika:

So sad. Guns. No, arming reporters won't fix this (just waiting for a fool to say this). It isn't the liberal media's fault (somebody else will say this). Yes, we need mental health programs (when will we own up to pay for them?). And we can't take down a flag to help distract folks from the gun issue. Guns.


Comment by Scoopster on 08/27/2015 14:41:30
Mornin' all..

I noticed something while reading of the fax manifesto sent by yesterday's shooter. As he mentioned his tipping point was the Charleston church shootings. He placed his deposit on the gun two days later. Yet it took him a couple months to carry out his actions. So I have to wonder - did he apply for a firearm permit & purchase through the standard channels and go through a waiting period (even in Virginia, where it's not exactly necessary)?

Comment by Raine on 08/27/2015 14:47:32
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all..

I noticed something while reading of the fax manifesto sent by yesterday's shooter. As he mentioned his tipping point was the Charleston church shootings. He placed his deposit on the gun two days later. Yet it took him a couple months to carry out his actions. So I have to wonder - did he apply for a firearm permit & purchase through the standard channels and go through a waiting period (even in Virginia, where it's not exactly necessary)?
Do we know where he bought the gun?


Comment by Mondobubba on 08/27/2015 14:54:04
A little off topic, but it will explain my absence. Web seriously needs a new CTO, the one we have is only good for smoking where she shouldn't and owning exotic cars.

Our network crapped itself for about an hour. It is just coming back up now. This is on top of 3 of the 5 servers that house our CRM systems being offline since MONDAY.

I would really like to know what our co-location contingencies are.

Comment by BobR on 08/27/2015 14:59:17
Quote by Mondobubba:
A little off topic, but it will explain my absence. Web seriously needs a new CTO, the one we have is only good for smoking where she shouldn't and owning exotic cars.

Our network crapped itself for about an hour. It is just coming back up now. This is on top of 3 of the 5 servers that house our CRM systems being offline since MONDAY.

I would really like to know what our co-location contingencies are.

she boinking the CEO or something?

Comment by Mondobubba on 08/27/2015 15:04:05
So, we are talking about gun control, right? Raine, I think there's a flaw in using the 20-year trend since from 1995 to 2008 had it's complete gun ban. It also coincides with some of the highest murder rates in the city, ie 1995 & 1996. I think what you are seeing here is a decrease in violence not by the strict gun control, but a reflection of the ending of the crack wars that plagued DC on the 80s and 90s.

Not that gun control wouldn't help. I just think your analysis is a little off.

Comment by Mondobubba on 08/27/2015 15:07:47
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Mondobubba:
A little off topic, but it will explain my absence. Web seriously needs a new CTO, the one we have is only good for smoking where she shouldn't and owning exotic cars.

Our network crapped itself for about an hour. It is just coming back up now. This is on top of 3 of the 5 servers that house our CRM systems being offline since MONDAY.

I would really like to know what our co-location contingencies are.

she boinking the CEO or something?


Not that I know of, Bobber. Unless she likes really short guys. our CEO is a wee tiny man. He would look smashing in jockey silks. I call her Ayn Rand because of the chain-smoking and the general entitled nouveau riche entitlement she reeks of. She wore a floor-length fur one day when it was "cold" a couple of Februarys back. She regularly pulls up to work in either a Lotus or Jaguar. She is generally cold to anyone who's not an executive. Not to mention she sets a terrible example by smoking in all the non-smoking areas around the building. Yeah I have issue with her. I think she is a terrible human being.

We have a hard time retaining good people as well, Bobber. The DBA who was the senior guy for the two main CRM systems left about 2-3 weeks ago, He went to another Oracle shop in town and got a raise of about 25-30K. You know what a senior DBA makes, Bobber, he was making significantly less.

Comment by Raine on 08/27/2015 15:11:50
BTW:

Jorge Ramos was NOT asking questions out of turn. I saw a clip where Trump was introducing some guy from his campaign and he goodbye to the dude. Dude walked away and Ramos asked a question — Trump never said I am going to take questions, not did Trump EVERY point to anyone in the room. Ramos simply was the first one to get the question out. I saw the clip last night on TRMS, and she didm;t address what I saw in that clip.

Also, I am sick of them covering Trump.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 08/27/2015 15:12:33
Good morning, bloggers!!

No subbing today. Sadly, no news yet on my interview from earlier in the week. (I truly hate the fact that most of the time, I hear nothing after an interview. Can't people at least let candidates know that they have moved on to a second interview or a hire.)

Comment by Mondobubba on 08/27/2015 15:14:09
Quote by Raine:
BTW:

Jorge Ramos was NOT asking questions out of turn. I saw a clip where Trump was introducing some guy from his campaign and he goodbye to the dude. Dude walked away and Ramos asked a question — Trump never said I am going to take questions, not did Trump EVERY point to anyone in the room. Ramos simply was the first one to get the question out. I saw the clip last night on TRMS, and she didm;t address what I saw in that clip.

Also, I am sick of them covering Trump.


I didn't think he had. I think Trump was being his usual trollish self. I am waiting for the former Trump executive to come forward about what horrible person The Donald is to work with.

Comment by BobR on 08/27/2015 15:23:42
Quote by Raine:
BTW:

Jorge Ramos was NOT asking questions out of turn. I saw a clip where Trump was introducing some guy from his campaign and he goodbye to the dude. Dude walked away and Ramos asked a question — Trump never said I am going to take questions, not did Trump EVERY point to anyone in the room. Ramos simply was the first one to get the question out. I saw the clip last night on TRMS, and she didm;t address what I saw in that clip.

Also, I am sick of them covering Trump.

2 nights in a row of Rachel Maddow covering essentially nothing but Republican presidential candidates, and mostly Trump at that.

Meanwhile, the Dem candidates who are not named Clinton or Sanders are languishing in obscurity.

Comment by Scoopster on 08/27/2015 15:50:46
Quote by BobR:
(snip) Also, I am sick of them covering Trump.

2 nights in a row of Rachel Maddow covering essentially nothing but Republican presidential candidates, and mostly Trump at that.

Meanwhile, the Dem candidates who are not named Clinton or Sanders are languishing in obscurity.

I'm really disappointed in Rachel for giving those GOP idiots way too much screen time. Gotta wonder if she's doing it just to keep her show because of the new management.

Comment by Will in Chicago on 08/27/2015 15:52:24
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Raine:
BTW:

Jorge Ramos was NOT asking questions out of turn. I saw a clip where Trump was introducing some guy from his campaign and he goodbye to the dude. Dude walked away and Ramos asked a question — Trump never said I am going to take questions, not did Trump EVERY point to anyone in the room. Ramos simply was the first one to get the question out. I saw the clip last night on TRMS, and she didm;t address what I saw in that clip.

Also, I am sick of them covering Trump.

2 nights in a row of Rachel Maddow covering essentially nothing but Republican presidential candidates, and mostly Trump at that.

Meanwhile, the Dem candidates who are not named Clinton or Sanders are languishing in obscurity.


Bob, I have to look to find news on Bernie Sanders. (As most people here know, I post news stories to the Democracy Interactive Facebook page.)

I want to hear about issues and solutions. I am not getting that from the electronic mainstream media.

I consider the Jorge Ramos story important, as it shows Trump's disdain for immigrants. However, can we have some stories on what Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Martin O'Malley, Lincoln Chafee and Jim Webb stand on immigration and other issues? I was a print reporter and 20 years ago thought we needed more in depth coverage of issues.


Comment by BobR on 08/27/2015 16:16:08
Quote by Mondobubba:
So, we are talking about gun control, right? Raine, I think there's a flaw in using the 20-year trend since from 1995 to 2008 had it's complete gun ban. It also coincides with some of the highest murder rates in the city, ie 1995 & 1996. I think what you are seeing here is a decrease in violence not by the strict gun control, but a reflection of the ending of the crack wars that plagued DC on the 80s and 90s.

Not that gun control wouldn't help. I just think your analysis is a little off.

Sure, the murder rate declined with the end of the drug wars - the issue is that it is now going back up again, and suddenly. I don't think it's a return of the crack wars - it coincides with the repeal of the gun laws

Comment by Mondobubba on 08/27/2015 18:37:52
Quote by BobR:
Quote by Mondobubba:
So, we are talking about gun control, right? Raine, I think there's a flaw in using the 20-year trend since from 1995 to 2008 had it's complete gun ban. It also coincides with some of the highest murder rates in the city, ie 1995 & 1996. I think what you are seeing here is a decrease in violence not by the strict gun control, but a reflection of the ending of the crack wars that plagued DC on the 80s and 90s.

Not that gun control wouldn't help. I just think your analysis is a little off.

Sure, the murder rate declined with the end of the drug wars - the issue is that it is now going back up again, and suddenly. I don't think it's a return of the crack wars - it coincides with the repeal of the gun laws



That sounds like a correlation vs causation issue.

Comment by livingonli on 08/27/2015 18:42:03
Good day, folks.

Comment by Raine on 08/27/2015 19:17:49
http://www.mattbors.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/948.png


Comment by Mondobubba on 08/27/2015 19:55:51
Quote by Raine:
http://www.mattbors.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/948.png



All the yes.