Brown Expresses Disappointment Supreme Court’s Decision to Overturn Handgun Ban

(Washington, DC) Today, District officials assembled to respond to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the District’s ban on handguns.  In the case of District of Columbia, et al., Petitioners v. Dick Anthony Heller (No.07-290), The Supreme Court ruled that the gun ban violates the Second Amendment to the Constitution.   At-Large Councilmember Kwame R. Brown issues the following statement in response to the Court’s recent decision, which will take effect in 21 days following its ruling:

For over three decades, we have upheld a restriction on handguns to protect our families.  By taking a collective effort to keep guns off the streets, we have demonstrated that violence by any means will not be tolerated in our city.  My disappointment in the Supreme Court’s ruling cannot be merely expressed by words.  Every time I hear of another youth, another mother or child gunned down in our communities is yet another reminder of why we need these protective measures in place. 

While I disapprove with the Court’s ruling, I will continue to work with my colleagues, members of the executive branch and our residents to develop legislative measures that will ensure that limitations for handgun possession are enforced.  As crime is a major concern in the District of Columbia, our citizens cannot take matters into our own hands.  It is our law enforcement officers that hold the gun elimination drives each year to ensure that weapons do not get into dangerous and even most innocent hands.  We must all continue to work together to protect our families from violence both in the home and in our neighborhoods.

For more information, please contact the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-4275.

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