Setting up the biggest fight over gun rights in the modern history of the United States, a federal appeals court, rejecting the argument that the Second Amendment right to bear arms applied only to militias, in a 2-1 decision knocked over the District of Columbia’s long-standing ban over handguns.
The verdict came about as a soothing appraisal for Tom Palmer, one of six to challenge the city’s gun law, who filed a petition against the 30 years old handgun law passed as an anti-crime measure forbidding the possession of handguns or rifles excluding residents with permits, police and security guards. Palmer said,
The fact is that the criminals don’t obey the law and they do have guns. It’s the law-abiding citizens who are disarmed by this law.
There is a mixed response for the latest ruling from different populace. People like Tom Palmer are taking it as a ground breaking decision that will allow vulnerable people to possess the guns for self-defense and thus prevent unwarranted assaults. Several other people are strictly against the decision as they claim that it will encourage more crime in the society.
Adrian Fenty, Washington Mayor, fearing the easy excess of more guns in the young hands and criminals regrets the decision of the federal appeals court.
I am personally deeply disappointed and quite frankly outraged by today’s decision. Today’s decision flies in the face of laws that have helped decrease gun violence in the District of Columbia.
There seems nothing wrong about the new ruling that allow common people to acquire handguns and arms for self protection until and unless they reach wrong hands. But, before allotting the arms, the authorities will have to make sure the background as well as the necessity of the person applying for the arms.
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