“Congressman Massie should not be amending the District’s gun control laws without knowing what he is doing,” said DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson after today’s vote to block enforcement of four gun laws dating back to 2008.  “While it is clear that Mr. Massie wants to eliminate gun control in the Nation’s Capital, his amendment is poorly drafted and hurts everybody – from Second Amendment advocates to law abiding citizens.  Since the 2008 Heller case, the District has repeatedly acted to reduce the restrictions on law-abiding gun owners.  But, by blocking enforcement of the amendment acts, Congressman Massie has actually made matters worse for these gun owners.”

For instance:

∙        The Massie amendment does not block the District’s gun registration law.  However, it does block amendments that conformed our registration law to the Supreme Court’s 2008 Heller decision.

∙        The Massie amendment suspends the District’s “Inoperable Pistol Amendment Act,” adopted at the request of the U.S. Attorney.  The effect of blocking this law is that it will be harder to prosecute violent criminals with guns.

∙        The Massie amendment blocks a law making it easier to prosecute criminals possessing  “cop-killer” bullets.

∙        The Massie amendment suspends transport requirements that had been rewritten to make it easier for recreational users and visitors to transport guns within or through the District.

∙        The Massie amendment increases the penalty for possessing an unregistered gun by blocking a 2012 Act giving prosecutors the authority to offer a fine in lieu of a criminal prosecution.

 “While the amendment is bad for gun owners, it also is bad for public safety in DC,” said Mendelson.   For instance:

 ∙        The amendment prohibits enforcement of the prohibition against assault weapons, including .50 caliber guns, and against large capacity magazines typically found in mass shootings;

∙        The amendment may make it easier to carry firearms throughout the District, even though federal courts have agreed with law enforcement officials that the District is a target for assassins and terrorists;

∙        The amendment will prohibit enforcement of the safe storage requirement that is intended to keep guns out of the hands of unsupervised children;

∙        The amendment will limit the District’s ability to keep guns away from persons with mental illness or a history of violence.

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