Bloggers React to Supreme Court Gun Ban Decision

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NOW THAT THE SUPREME COURT has ruled against D.C.'s 32-year-old regulation banning handgun ownership for citizens, the blogosphere is abuzz with speculation and conjecture on how this will change things in the city.

To be clear, this ruling does not open the door for District residents to run to the nearest gun show and strap up. In addition, it does not change anything as far as laws concerning the regulation of guns outside of the home.

As the Post's David Nakamura reports on D.C. Wire, the city has to figure out exactly how it will implement its new regulations.

In a recent interview (before the court ruled), Interim D.C. Attorney General Peter J. Nickles was asked what would happen if the city lost the case. He said that residents will not be able to buy a handgun and bring it to the city immediately following the high court's ruling. There will be a period of continued legal arguments before a lower court judge to hash out specifics around the high court's opinion, Nickles said. ... Handguns would only be allowed in the home, Nickles added, with residents banned from carrying them on the streets or into other buildings.

Boztopia.com seems to think that this ruling is a step in the right direction toward D.C. receiving full voting rights in Congress. "There is an upside to this, though ... now there is no logical way anyone can argue DC does not deserve the rights of full statehood. We pay taxes, we go to war, we obey the laws, and now we can own guns," he writes. "How can we reasonably be denied a full vote in Congress after this day? I'd love to see the tortured logic used to justify that."

Across the river at And Now, Anacostia, they don't see much positive coming out of the decision. "I really do not want to see or hear about more guns. Obviously people already have them, so hopefully with this ruling there will be more regulation on existing handguns and who is legally allowed to carry."

In Georgetown, Vox Populi also saw the ban as previously ineffective. "[It's] sad stuff for DC, but how much gun crime did the gun ban deter, considering that Maryland and Virginia gun stores are only a Metro train away?" Although the Georgetown Voice staff blog didn't see the ruling as all bad, adding, "On the bright side, I guess this means we can all go to more firing ranges."

OffSeventh, a Shaw blog, is worried that striking down the ban will affect wannabe neighborhood vigilantes, as well as the Metropolitan Police Department. "I think there are many pro-gun folks that are dancing in the streets thinking that now we [can] ... 'take back the streets' from the thugs and criminals," he said. "The only thing that irks me is what will happen to the way that MPD officers will be forced to interact with the public. Instead of being the peacemaker in a situation, they will now have to assume each of us is carrying a gun (and I do not blame them)."

Whether you agree with Thursday's decision or not, one thing is clear: more guns will be coming to the District.

» "Supreme Court Strikes Down D.C. Ban on Handguns" [WaPo]
» "D.C. Attorney General: All Guns Must Be Registered" [D.C. Wire]
» "Fenty Expresses Dismay at Ruling on Guns" [WaPo]
» "District Government Reacts to Heller Ruling" [dc.gov]

Photo by Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images