Supreme Court
D.C. to Appeal Handgun Ruling
Posted Jul 17, 2007, 07:12 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
Washington, D.C., officials will seek Supreme Court review of a ruling striking down the district’s 30-year handgun ban.
Mayor Adrian Fenty announced his decision to seek cert at a news conference yesterday, the Washington Post reports. "The handgun ban has saved many lives and will continue to do so if it remains in effect," he said.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit struck down the law in March, ruling that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to bear arms in one’s own home. (See this ABAJournal.com post for more details.)
The New York Times says the D.C. Circuit opinion is at odds with that of nine other appeals courts, increasing chances the the Supreme Court will accept the case.
Experts told the Post that gun enthusiasts have never had a better chance for a major victory.