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June 25, 2008

No D.C. Gun Opinion Yet from Supreme Court

handgun2.JPGIt's been a long four months for both anti- and pro-gun advocates since the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments concerning the constitutionality of the District's infamously restrictive gun laws. And though the court is coming to the end of their session, we're all still waiting to see what's to come of the District's gun laws.

The Supreme Court released opinions on Monday and this morning, and on both days anticipation ran high for the possibility of a ruling on the gun case. So far, none has come, but the court will release the last of its opinions for this term tomorrow at 10 a.m., which will have to include Heller v. District of Columbia. Most court watchers are predicting that Justice Scalia will be the author the decision for Heller. Scalia is one of the court's most reliably conservative members, so it seems a foregone conclusion that the District's gun laws as they currently exist will be no more. But will Scalia definitely be writing the majority decision? Not necessarily, clarifies SCOTUSBlog:

while it appears that Justice Scalia has the principle opinion in the Guns case, it is not necessarily a majority opinion. It could be a plurality opinion.
A plurality opinion would mean that a majority of the justices did not sign on to Scalia's opinion, and that one or more individual concurring opinions will probably also be announced.

They Supremes really are teasing this one out.

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Comments (49) [rss]

Will you please just hurry up and come already? I'm losing my hard on and I have to pee.

 

^ what he said.

 

Can we PLEASE have a gun sales section in existing crappy-ass liquor stores?

I've already got the perfect sale slogan "The Keepin' It Real Saturday Night Special"....

 

Ah, the 9" nickel plated Smith & Wesson, standard issue sidearm for pistolwhipping pimps, playas, and mac daddies (as well as daddy macs). You're going to see a lot more of these downtown, and not just at Bohemian Caverns.

"What country you from? 'What' ain't no country I ever heard of. They speak English in 'What?'" English! Muthaf**er, can you speak it? Say 'what' again! I dare you. I double dare you, muthaf**er! Say 'what' one more goddamn time!"

And that's just at the library.

 

Actually, they can just recycle those old Billy Dee Williams ads,

Colt 45: Works Every Time.

Except have him dressed as Lando Calryssian shooting at Imperial troopers.

 

Columbia Heights Target has the designated sports counter ready to roll.

 

I posted this on the Morning Roundup thread, but it's more appropriate here:


According to the Supreme Court groupies on ScotusBlog, Scalia's the odds-on favorite to be writing the Heller opinion. Which means not only will the DC gun ban be shot down (pathetic pun not intended, but unavoidable), but raises the issue of gun control laws in general, especially if he says the 2nd Amendment is an individual right, and not a collective right. I wouldn't be surprised to see a bunch of concurring opinions holding: the 2nd Amendment is an individual right (5-4), the DC gun ban is unconstitutional (7-2), but some gun control laws are constitutional (7-2).

Bigger question: Has DC started preparing what to do when the decision is revealed? Have the Fenty peeps started drafting new statutes and regulations on gun registrations? Will we have firearms dealers in DC?

 

Makes me wanna pin on a badge, strap on a gun and become a real lawman!!!

 

Maybe the Supremes have a judicial case of whiskey dick going. Release the damn decision already, Nino!

 

"Bigger question: Has DC started preparing what to do when the decision is revealed?"

D.C. Government? Prepared? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

 

1) CJ Roberts was arguing for a very narrow ruling-- it's an individual right, a total ban violates it, end of opinion. You want to know what else might, what standard of review, bring more lawsuits.

2) If Scalia writes, it's 100% individual right. Which accords with the history. See my documentary, and its clips, at www.secondamendmentdocumentary.com.

3) Don't think the District has to do anything. If I recall its law correctly, it's (a) handguns must be registered, and a condition of that is compliance with a number of strict standards -- fingerprint check, cleaner record that is federally required, safety training, etc, and (b) even with that, no registrations allowed after 1977 or whenever. If the Court strikes down (b), (a) is still in place.

 

Oh I can't wait to start up my fake resistration card business, oh wait did I type that? Oh who cares, no one reads this. I wish they would hurry up, I can't wait to wear my holsters and six shooters in the P Street whole foods, Defendin' my freedom to graze in the hot bar line and all that.

 

Technically they can continue the case to next term. But yes, a decision tomorrow is all but certain.

 

The Supreme Court has to the end of this summer/term to hand down its decision. So why does everybody think it is coming this week?

 

Correct me if I am wrong but this is just deciding if you can own them and keep them in your home correct?

Its not like its going to mean you can carry it walking down the street.

 

I'd like to see dueling grounds re-established in Bladensburg. Mainly b/c I'd like to get one of this white, satin gloves to walk around smacking people in the face and challenging their honor.

 

"Forget about the badge! WHEN DO WE GET THE FREAKING GUNS?!"

"Hey! I told you you don't get your gun until you tell me your name."

"Forget it! I've had it up to here with your "rules!"

 

I'm curious to know if any one has a gun preference.

I know Glocks are pretty popular. I believe it's because they are fairly simple, cheap, light weight and have a fast shooting action (safety is on the trigger) .

Myself, I see DC as more of a Beretta town. Thoughts?

 

jrraddy: Maybe because their calendar shows nothing schedule for after this week?

 

That should say "scheduled." Which reminds me, any chance of getting an edit option here?

 

Does anyone know where the gun shops will be?

 

Bigger question: Has DC started preparing what to do when the decision is revealed?...

If I were mayor, and if I can get these peeping tom charges cleared then I soon will be, I would call a press conference, tear away my summer suit to reveal a mesh stars and stripes tank top, then flex for the cameras while boasting to all present: 'how about these guns?!!'

Then I would propose legislation that limits handgun sales in a manner consistent with the ruling from the court.

 

Randy Savage for Mayor?

 

Glocks and Berettas might look good but in my opinion they are garbage.

Their is only one tried and true semi automatic to use.

The M1911 .45 Automatic.

I personally prefer revolvers to semi automatics and carry a .45 Ruger SP-101

 

OldPoster:

I agree lets bring back dueling.

I bet a lot of these people around here you rant and rage and act like idiots when they don't get their way would shut their mouths if they thought for a second that the person taking their food order, or driving the delivery truck, or working in a store may challenge them to a duel and put a round in the middle of their forehead.

A couple other positive things to come out of dueling would be:

1. Far less lawyers in town.
2. A surplus of used BWI's on the market.
3. Lots of Starbucks closing because of lost cliental.

 

sorry that should have said

"you see rant and rage"

 

I've always been an arquebus man myself. Nothing intimidates your enemy quite like the 18 procedures for loading, presenting, and firing antique matchlocks rifles.

Seriously, I'm sure most folks will opt for something small and concealable with minimal recoil, like the popular Lady Smith & Wesson®, available in .357 Magnum and .38+P.

As for the gentleman, nothing says "swaggering horsecock jerk" quite like the Smith & Wesson 500. Protect your family and property from home invaders, charging bull elephants, and renegade cave trolls. And as a remote control, it's judgement on American Idol is always final. Don't forget to order the optional carry sling. That 82 ounces can get quite burdensome in the middle of August.

 

OK, but if you're going to duel, then guns are a pussy way to do it. Swords, knives, fists, I'm all for that.

If I got mugged by some punk with a rapier, I'd be pretty impressed.

 

what about the 7-barrel Nock volley gun? that's pretty sweet.

Or should we go all out "Future Weapons" style and get automatic shotguns?

 

Ah, the old ".45-vs-9mm" debate. Almost as old as the Mac-vs-PC debate. And I ain't even gonna touch the .40 hornet's nest. Tell you the truth, I wouldn't want to be shot by any of them, but it's really a personal decision. Yet there's a reason why most armies have standardized on 9mm sidearms, and what it basically comes down to is, "Do you want more Mickey's Big Mouths or less Chimay?" I mean, they'll both get the job done. We're just talking about what kind of headache you want afterwards.

 

Dessert Eagle, baby.

.50 Auto-Mag.

It shoots a beer can at your head.

 

Personally, it's a tossup between my Amazon curare blowgun and my steampunk modded Nerf gun with darts soaked in a mixture of boogers and diarrhea.

 

I usually rely on my most dangerous weapon:

Dancing.

Nothing makes my enemies weep as a challenge to a dance-off.

 

As for me, I look forward to hunting the Most Dangerous Game, that most elusive of preys, the pleskowicz.

 

Are you a tall or large person? A tall or large person dancing is incredibly funny to me. The better the dancer, the funnier it is.

 

Has anyone been attacked by someone who employs Dragon Ball Z? Or Yugi-O? Are those legal in the District?

I'd say that the most dangerous game. Once you start down the time-shunting path of repetitive, indiscernible and endless kid's TV, you may never return.

 

Well, when the ban is overturned, the good news is there is already a licensed gun dealer in DC - Josh Sugarmann, director of the Violence Policy Center [an anti-gun group]. WTF?

 

If I remember correctly from some other news story (no idea which one; too lazy to Google it), DC had only 1 licensed firearms dealer (which, I believe, sold only to law enforcement), but it recently decided to not renew that license. Thus DC has no licensed dangerous weapons dealers.

 

Yep, Heller is purely a "keep arms" case, a challenge to the ban on ownership in the home.

John M. Browning is god and the 1911 is his product!

The 9mm vs. .45 debates were ongoing long before there were Macs and PCs. Before then it was .38 revolver vs. .45 auto, with the wheelgun advocates contending that autos were cantankerous and revolvers didn't jam.

 

Hey, Supremes ........ we're not getting any younger here.

Give it to me. I've been waiting ALL DAY.

 

OldPoster:and will585:

Dueling sounds so effete. Let's call it something hairy-chested like mutual combat . Slap leather, varmint!

 

Handguns?

You are all pussies.

Go flamethrower or go home, bitches.

I mean, an arm is an arm, right. And I need me some fire.

 

Before then it was .38 revolver vs. .45 auto, with the wheelgun advocates contending that autos were cantankerous and revolvers didn't jam.

Ha! Try hucking a .357 in a Tattooine sand dune, maybe around the Dead Sea or even the Sarlaac Pit if you can find it, and see how far you get. There's a reason why Winston Churchill ditched his Webley and used a Mauser Broomhandle in North Africa, and it wasn't because Jane Seymour was down with German engineering.

Yeah, good luck bullseyeing womp rats with a friggin revolver, jack. It ain't gonna happen.

 

John M. Browning is god and the 1911 is his product!

Clearly, sir, you are unfamiliar with the Browning Hi-Power. The friggin Nazis were ditching Lugers for this joint, yo. And the inimitable Czech CZ is based on the design. Say what you want about Carlos the Jackal, bitch knew his sidearms.

But I digress, DC clearly will soon need a shooting gallery and I nominate the Black Cat, preferably during Mousetrap around 2am, right around when someone requests "Common People."

 

Well, the difference between the 9 mm and the 45 is that when you hit someone with a 45 they go down and stay down. The 9 mm is known to pass through people and they stay up.

The 50 not only knocks them down but rearranges their DNA.

But I think the edged weapon argument merits serious thought. Wouldn't it be cool to walk around DC and see people with rapiers and short swords strapped to their sides?

I think the flame thrower idea is okay but only if you have the skill to light a cigarette with it without loosing your hair.

 

The 9 mm is known to pass through people and they stay up.

Two words: jacketed hollowpoints.

Flamethrowers have been readily available in DC for years. They're called "a can of Aquanet and a Bic lighter."

 

Is there a way to combine the projectile and the edged weapon? I say we unleash bow and arrow on DC. I'm talkin' Rambow and arrow, with explosive tips that blow up 4 or 5 vehicles in one shot.

Barring that, I would accept the Dukes of Hazards "dynamite on a stick" arrow configuration.

You hit someone with one of those and you'll kill them with the nostalgia alone.

 

Is there a way to combine the projectile and the edged weapon?

Nothing says "armed lunatic" quite like a cutlass pistol. Grab yourselve a jeweled eyepatch and a parrot, and here's a golden opportunity to terrorize your neighbors and brush up on your pirate-ese. "Arrrr! Shiver me timbers! Tis the black spot! I be not afraid of ye, Blind Pew! Belay the mainbrace, Squire Trelawney! This be my ship now! Arrr!"

 

organic cotton holster business, here i come

 
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