Even if folks don't wish to testify before the committee, Heller & Co are asking people to turn out to support their efforts when they testify at the hearing.

The main issues will be:
- repeal of the ballistics test for handguns,
- allow temporary possession while participating in instruction,
- repeal of the requirement that an instructor be a state or military certfied instructor (so any instructor approved by the MPD will be qualified),
- exempt from the training requirement persons with military training that is at least what D.C. requires, and
- change the vision requirement to prohibit only blind people from registering.

* * * * *

Gun Offender Pretrial Detention and Firearms Amendment Acts

Date:          January 30, 11:00 AM

Address:   Council Chamber, John A. Wilson Building 1350 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, D.C. 20004

                  Bill 19-485, Gun Offender Pretrial Detention and Supervision Act of 2011
and
                  Bill 19-614, Firearms Amendment Act of 2011

Councilmember Phil Mendelson, Chairperson of the Committee on the Judiciary, announces a public hearing on:

Bill 19-485, the Gun Offender Pretrial Detention and Supervision Act of 2011, and
Bill 19-614, the Firearms Amendment Act of 2011.  

The public hearing will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 30, 2012 in the Council Chamber, Room 500,  of the John A. Wilson Building.

The stated purpose of Bill 19-485 is
to amend Chapter 13 of Title 23 of the District of Columbia Official Code to require that a person charged with   any   firearm related offense shall wear a   detection device   pending trial,   and to require pretrial detention for any individual who commits a firearm related offense while on release pending trial, imposition or execution of a sentence or an appeal, or while on probation, parole, or supervised release.  

The stated purpose of Bill 19-614 is
to amend the firearms laws of the District of Columbia
to define  “firearm instructor;”  
to allow a person to temporarily possess a firearm while participating in a firearms training and safety course;
to clarify that the requirement to demonstrate knowledge of the District’s firearms laws is a one-time requirement per applicant;
to repeal the requirement for a vision test;
to repeal the requirement that each pistol be submitted for ballistic identification as part of the registration process;
to harmonize various provisions in the laws pertaining to firearms; and
to make other technical corrections and clarifications.  
The Committee   invites   testimony   regarding each of these bills, and
also   general testimony   regarding the gun control laws of the District.

Those who wish to testify should contact
Ms. Jessica Jacobs, Legislative Counsel, at (202) 724-8038,
by fax at (202) 724-6664, or
via e-mail at [email protected], and
provide their name, address, telephone number, organizational affiliation and title (if any) by close of business   Thursday, January 26, 2012.  
Persons wishing to testify are encouraged, but not required, to submit  15 copies  of written testimony.  If submitted by the close of business on Thursday, January 26, 2012 the testimony will be distributed to Councilmembers before the hearing.  Witnesses should limit their testimony to five minutes; less time will be allowed if there are a large number of witnesses.

If you are unable to testify at the hearing, written statements are encouraged and will be made a part of the official record.  
Copies of written statements should be submitted either to Ms. Jacobs, or to Ms. Nyasha Smith, Secretary to the Council, Room 5 of the Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20004.  The record will close at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 13, 2012.

Public hearing on Bill 19-485: Gun Offender Pretrial Detention and
Supervision Act of 2011 and Bill 19-614: Firearms Amendment Act of 2011

Committees: Committee on the Judiciary

Committee Chairs: Phil Mendelson

Councilmembers: Jack Evans, Mary M. Cheh, Muriel Bowser, Marion Barry, Phil Mendelson