I learned something new yesterday: the District of Columbia has the lowest suicide rate in the country. Why? Until the Supreme Court decided otherwise, DC had a tough handgun law - few handguns in homes=fewer suicides.
Common Cause has no position on gun laws, but we do strongly support democratic rights for DC (as well as everywhere else). But some in Congress are prepared to tromp all over DC home rule and impose an ill-considered gun law on DC -- even though the DC City Council already passed a temporary law in response to the Supreme Court decision and is working on a permanent law.
Global warming, high gas prices, economic distress, health care? Forget it - Congress has better things to do: Dump on the rights of DC to pass its own laws, something they would never do to their own hometowns.
Read on for the text of a coalition letter:
Dear Member of Congress:
We urge you to oppose discharge petition H. Res. 1331, because it would violate the fundamental right of local democracy and self-government for the nearly 600,000 Americans living in the District of Columbia.
The resolution purports to restore second amendment rights to individuals in the District of Columbia by forcing the House to consider the "Second Amendment Enforcement Act," H.R. 1399. While some of our organizations have positions on DC's gun laws, others do not. What unites us is our belief that the people of the District of Columbia have the solemn right to decide what those laws ought to be within the parameters of the new decision in District of Columbia v. Heller.
In the recent past, some members of Congress believed that the District's gun laws violated the Constitution. Despite those concerns, Congress did not act to impose its will over the local population. Opponents - including members of Congress - sought and received redress in the courts. The Supreme Court overturned part of DC's gun laws in District of Columbia v. Heller. The duly-elected DC government enacted 90-day legislation to address the immediate mandate from the Supreme Court. When the DC City Council returns from their summer recess, it will review and finalize the District's gun laws. Other localities are going through the same process without interference from Congress. Congress should afford Washingtonians the same respect, rather than treat them like second-class citizens.
If some members of Congress believe DC's new gun law is unconstitutional, then they should pursue their grievances in court, rather than trying to impose their viewpoint on Washingtonians. DC residents are serving in our armed forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere to promote democracy without experiencing full democracy here at home. Members of Congress should honor their service by urging their colleagues in the Senate to pass the DC House Voting Rights Act, S. 1257, rather than trying to diminish the limited local rights DC residents currently enjoy.
We urge you to reject the discharge petition and respect local democracy for Americans living in our nation's capital.
