Dear Violence Policy Center Action Network Member:  

PLEASE CALL THE U.S. CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD AT 202-224-3121 AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND
TELL YOUR SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE AGAINST EFFORTS TO REPEAL
WASHINGTON, DC'S GUN LAWS!

TO IDENTIFY YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, OR FOR DIRECT-DIAL INFO, VISIT
http://action.vpc.org/ctt.asp?u=1423191&l=56690 FOR THE U.S. SENATE AND
http://action.vpc.org/ctt.asp?u=1423191&l=56691 FOR THE U.S. HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.

Right now, the U.S. House of Representatives is poised to vote on a bill
sponsored by Representative Mark Souder (R-IN) to overturn all of the District
of Columbia's gun laws that are stricter than federal law.  The bill currently
has 228 co-sponsors.  The bill, H.R. 3193, would:  repeal the District's ban on
handguns and semiautomatic weapons, including assault weapons; end firearm
registration requirements; and, remove criminal penalties for possessing an
unregistered firearm.  Under the bill, the District government would be denied
the "authority to enact laws or regulations that discourage or eliminate the
private ownership or use of firearms."  A vote to add a similar measure to the
District's fiscal year 2005 spending bill in the Senate Appropriations Committee
is expected tomorrow, Tuesday, September 21.  

The effectiveness of the District's current ban on handgun possession is
demonstrated by the fact that virtually none of the guns used in crime in the
District originated here. Gun dealers in the District accounted for only  three
percent of recovered crime guns in 2000. In contrast, 59 percent of traceable
D.C. crime guns were first purchased in Virginia and Maryland. Another 18
percent of D.C. crime guns were bought from gun dealers in North Carolina,
Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. All of these jurisdictions have gun laws
far more lenient than the District of Columbia's.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO AS MANY OTHERS AS YOU CAN!

Thank you!

Quoted: This is just twisted.  They are trying to argue that the law is effective at reducing crime in one of the most crime ridden cities in the nation, because criminals arm themselves elsewhere or through other means?

That is how they "think".  That is why it is so difficult to use logic to counter their rediculous claims.  The truth and reality have no influence on them what-so-ever.

The effectiveness of the District's current ban on handgun possession is demonstrated by the fact that virtually none of the guns used in crime in the District originated here.

Ummmm, exactly how many gun stores and manufacturers are there in DC?

Kharn

I hope to God they get those laws repealed.  If and when it happens, you can bet to see a surge of citizens forking out money to arm themselves simply because they're tired of being victimized in a crime-ridden cess pool.

228 co-sponsors?  That's exactly the number of Republicans in the House.

What's the chances it passes the Senate?  Pretty slim I would think.

Wow. If, somehow, the laws in DC become more conservative, I may actually have to consider moving to Georgetown. Lovely place if you can defend yourself.

The effectiveness of the District's current ban on handgun possession is demonstrated by the fact that virtually none of the guns used in crime in the District originated here.

That's a big releif! The guns used to commit crimes in a "gun free" city did not originate from the city where it is illegal to buy guns!