Man Stops Traffic at 17th and K to Demand $200 Million
Morning Roundup: Goodbye, Abe Edition
Judge Throws Out WTU Suit Over Teacher Layoffs
Vegetate to Close at the End of the Month
Morning Roundup: Rain Won't Go Away Edition
Dick Heller seems to be happy just to be able to keep a gun in his house. Alan Gura, on the other hand, wants District residents to be able to carry them in public. The Washington Times is reporting that Gura, one of the lawyers that represented Heller in last year's Supreme Court case that knocked down the city's ban on handguns, has filed a lawsuit on behalf of four people that want to carry their guns in public. Currently, guns can only be kept inside homes unless they are being transported to a firing range or a police station for registration. One of the plaintiffs, Amy McVey, argues that her right to self-defense should extend to outside of her home. "My right to self-defense shouldn't stop at my front door," she said, adding, "Everywhere it's legal." The lawsuit also seeks to force the city to recognize permits from other states allowing gun owners to transport their weapon of choice in public.
Fenty Signs Anti-Crime Bill: Even though summer is winding down and crime remains surprisingly low, yesterday Mayor Adrian Fenty signed an emergency crime bill that gives chronic offenders stiffer penalties, adds the homeless to the city's hate crime law, allows police to set up loitering-free zones for longer periods of time and makes texting while driving illegal. According to the Post, the bill does not include a controversial anti-gang measure that was voted down earlier this summer over fears that it would lead to racial profiling. And in keeping with the maturity we expect from our government leaders, Council member Phil Mendelson, who authored the legislation but led the campaign to remove the anti-gang provision, was not invited to Fenty's signing ceremony.
Prince William County Turns Illegals Over to Feds: Prince William County provoked local and national controversy a few years back when it started a program allowing police officers to check the immigration status of people they detained. Now the Examiner brings news that between July 2007 and May 2009 the county turned more than1,600 illegal immigrants over to federal authorities for deportation. At the same time, federal officials have described problems handling all the illegal immigrants they receive.
Really, Virginia, Really? Sorry, but anyone who subscribes to the birther movement that believes that President Obama wasn't really born in the U.S. is a moron. And according to the Washington Times, there seem to be a lot of morons in Virginia. According to a recent poll, fully 24 percent of the commonwealth's residents believe that Obama is foreign born, with another 24 percent saying they're not sure. Fine, that's not an outright majority of the state's people, but it's still far more people than should actually believe that America elected a foreigner as a president. Christ, even Ann Coulter has called the birthers "cranks." Ann. Freaking. Coulter. (BTW, Arnold in 2012!)
Briefly Noted: Obama wades into local political races, stumps for Deeds in Virginia ... More traffic cameras coming for Maryland ... Former Miss Maryland pleads guilty in drug case ... MoCo firefighter caught in online sex sting.
This Day in DCist: On this day in 2008, we reported that FiOS was on its way to the District and checked out Columbia Heights' Commonwealth. In 2007, a local D.C. chef made it to the "Hell's Kitchen" finale and we asked you guys to touch up our fair city.
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Martin!! Nice to see you again.
I'm a bit puzzled by the Gura lawsuit. Concealed carry seems like a big reach. I would have expected him to go after some of the other silly provisions in the DC's gun laws first.
In other obvious news, the Pope is Catholic.
I mean, C'mom. It's the NRA fer Christ sake.
They know neither reason nor bounds. Stop pretending that DC was unreasonable to oppose them maximally, when they do not make compromises.
Also, while Heller might not have been the ideal poster child for a reasonable right to own a firearm (he does come off as a nut), is McVey really any better? The first thing I think of when I hear that name is Oklahoma City.
I mean, it's like the pro-fireworks crowd filing on behalf of Thelma Kaczynski.
I'll agree with you in McVey. I thought the same thing. She should change her name to Polly Purebread.
Nah, too obvious. Eunice Wentworth Howell would be better.
The NRA has nothing to do with this suit, and had very little to do with Heller.
I'm sure.
It's true. The NRA has always been skittish about going the route with the courts. In fact, early on they tried to talk Gura out of pursuing Heller. It was only after they saw that he may actually win did they jump on the bandwagon.
Gura's success has been with finding sympathetic plaintiffs and fighting very narrow battles.
One more thing. "compromise" means each side giving something. Making a state "shall issue" for concealed carry in exchange for registration would be a compromise.
Saying "Instead of banning all guns, we are just going to ban some guns" is not a compromise.
"Saying "Instead of banning all guns, we are just going to ban some guns" is not a compromise."
Uh, okay.
please, people. if you don't want to protect yourselves, attach a giant "I don't believe in self defense and I don't intend to protect myself so please rob/rape me - NOW" sign to your chests and wander into the night in your own little world of denial. but some of us want to exercise our second amendment right to defend ourselves - and the rest of you will be safer if the little street urchin morons begin to wonder if someone they want to rob may be packin' heat.
Didn't someone just shoot people in a museum as well as on the metro? The metro could get mighty testy during rush hour. I'm all for a dueling for seats program.
Someone got shot on the metro? There was a shooting outside of the metro in Columbia Heights, but not one on the metro, that I'm aware of. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Some punk with a shotgun killed young Danny Bailey. In cold blood, in the lobby of a downtown Metro. Killed him in anger, a force he couldn't handle. Helped pull the trigger that cut short his life. And there's not many knew him the way that we did. Sure enough he was a wild one, but then aren't most hungry kids.
This gun issue is really beginning to piss me off.
Ms. McVey needs an attitude adjustment. While her "right to self-defense shouldn't stop at her front door", it in fact does not. I believe she is allowed to carry mace, and when used properly, a small pocket knife like a leatherman, etc. would actually work rather well if she had to face an assailant in a close encounter. Regardless, she should probably learn how to do so without harming herself, a self-defense class would be appropriate.
And it's not legal everywhere, you moron. There are many states who do not allow their citizens to carry concealed weapons, or allow other state's citizens to transport their concealed weapons over state lines, I don't understand how DC is having such a hard time with that.
And last but not least, there are 4,000 men and women in this city whose job it is to protect her stupid @ss, it's unfortunate they have such an ungrateful population, it makes their jobs much harder, part of which is to take guns from the bad guys and get all of them off the streets.
There are many states who do not allow their citizens to carry concealed weapons,
By "many" do you mean "two"? Only two states don't have any type of concealed carry.
*SNAP!*
I was being vague because I couldn't remember if it was larger than two.
Though another handful of states have a may-issue policy, but end up taking a no-issue stand.
Only 5 states are "may issue." Practically, it is only 4.
When seconds count, the police are minutes away.
If you don't believe that, then you are very ignorant. Why should I not be capable of defending myself when some young punk decides I look like an easy mark so he can buy some new $100 shoes?
What gives you the right to say when and where I can defend my body? Do I come over to your house and tell you what you can wear on the street and what sort of birth control you can and can't use?
What a moron you are petitg. I would not normally sink to your level, but I know Amy and your childish attack turns my stomach. Think and or research before you open your mouth. 49 of 50 states allow carrying of a loaded firearm in some manner with or without a permit. About 40 are shall issue concealed carry states, meaning you pass a background check and obtain training, you get the permit. Two Vermont and Alaska have no restrictions. A majority of the states allow open carrying without any license. As for your 4000 men and women who protect us, the law is clear they have no legal duty to protect anyone. You cannot sue DC is the police negligently or even intentionally look the other way as someone breaks the law, say for example, crushing your head with a brick. Tell me genius why these 4,000 cannot prevent DC from having the highest violent crime rate in the country. Oh, police in the 49 states that allow carry don't have a problem telling the good guys from the bad guys, do they?
I agree with Amy McVey. With the sudden surge of snakes in the area I should be able to defend myself when I walk out my front door.
From the snakes? Or your many, many gentlemen callers.
Is there a difference?
Some days it's hard to tell.
Some days you tell it's hard.
Good point. Thanks for understanding.
They had the same concealed carry argument in VA. The gun nuts were afraid of getting executed Virginia Tech-style over their Rooty Tooty Fresh & Fruity Pancakes at IHOP; the gun grabbers were predicting bloodbath arguments at the fixins bar at Roy Rogers over who gets the last of the barbcue sauce. Yet the passed concealed carry, and everyone still eats their godawful slop in peace. Anyway, I think this is gonna be a mistake downtown because the way people talk their f**king heads off on their cellphones while telling the girl at Starbucks to wait while she tries to figure out what she's ordering, someone is gonna get their asses shot. Then there's the dumb slobs who're gonna get shot over wallets and shirts and such. As always, the truth is somewhere in between the syrup dispensers. Now, when the f**k will Jemal re-open the Waffle Shop? Who the f**k do I gotta to shoot to get some decent goddamned waffles downtown?
I believe the Virginia shall issue debate was where Sarah Brady famously predicted that there would be "blood in the streets" if it was passed.
Sarah Brady is a nut.
Is this thread where sock puppets go when they die?
Ah, a lovely day in the low 80s, WETA on the radio, a nice cup of coffee, and potential for another He Said/She Said on my favorite crack-induced website.
Oh, and kudos to Martin for reporting on the obvious plethora of morons living in Virginia. One only need to drive in the left hand lane in Fairfax to figure that one out.
For the Record:
1. I live in Virginia.
2. President Obama was born in the United States.
3. President George W. Bush told French President Jacques Chirac in early 2003 that Iraq must be invaded to thwart Gog and Magog, the Bible’s satanic agents of the Apocalypse.
Now tell me who's nuts.
Thank you.
NOVA doesn't count as Virginia! You don't find confederate flags in the windows of NOVA residents... but if you go to far south beyond Quantico, let's face it, there's some crazy racist old foggies down there! I think it's more likely that those people just don't like Obama because he's black, the whole birth question is just an excuse to hide their bigotry with....
...sort of similar to the way anti-marriage equality ministers hide their bigotry behind ballot iniatives and "let the people decide" ploys instead of just coming out (pun intended) and saying they hate gays.
:-) okay back to work, promise!
Good point. Thanks for understanding.
The People's Republic of Alexandria takes issue with being lumped in with the rest of Virginia's "crazy racist old fogies." It is well known that the racism doesn't start until you hit the Prince William County line, where even drivers of vehicles bearing "South of the Border" bumperstickers are subject to stripsearch and interrogation to establish authentic American citizenship; the latter including being questioned as to who won the World Series in 1938.
St. Louis Browns?
Gog and Magog really get a bad rap. They used to live next to me and were really nice guys. They were devoted to their jack Russell terriers and had a condo in Rehobeth they said we could borrow anytime we wanted. But I did try to avoid talking about Israel with them. They'd go all apocalypse whenever anybody brought it up.
soshalist presidant barry sotoro caint protekt us frum gog and magog!!!
Ugh morons in Virginia and gun-hugging nut-jobs in DC... what's MD got to offer us for the mix?
I don't understand this need to let everybody carry a weapon in public... enough people in DC have guns already, why add more?! Half the people who swear by their gun as "self defense" probably wouldn't be able to stop a crime from happening to them or anyone else anyway--they wouldn't care! It's not about self-defense folks...
Conceal carry is not happening in DC-at least not for another decade. What he is doing is simply seeking a court ruling on "bear" in 2A. Heller just dealt with the "keep" part. The reason he is going after DC is because Heller has yet to be incorporated to other states.
Regardless, all DC has to do to moot this is add one line back into the code saying the police chief can issue concealed carry licenses. Most people don't realize that such a law was on the books until last year. No, the police chief never issued a permit, but technically they could.
I think it should be legal to carry guns in public but only if they're kept in holsters, and ponchos, lassos, ten-gallon hats and spurs would also be mandatory. Now THAT would be a sight to see on the DC Metro.
Quite a few states have open carry gun laws. Haven't heard about any Yosemite Sam-style shootouts in Kentucky, which is suprising considering the amount of bourbon they produce.
Check out this guy in Richmond. The guy took him down with a western-style six shooter that weighs a ton.
I am not a fan of anecdotal evidence to support a point, but its worth noting that when a guy kills 4 people in a gym it is a national story. Yet when someone prevents multiple homicides it is a two day local story.
For years, I've been pistolwhipping people who pee on the rim, but you don't see me bragging about it. It's because nobody really cares. Why do you think the "rimpeeingpistolwhippers.com" domain name is still available?
True the the Metro already has the good, the bad, and the fugly.
Molly!
Is it legal to carry a fake gun, like Clint Eastwood did in the beginning of the Good the Bad and the Ugly. You know, in case someone tries to jack me while I'm getting a shave?
wah wah waaaaah
or was it high plains drifter? meh, you know what I'm sayin.
Right movie, wrong star. It was Eli Wallach as Tuco who was about to be shot while he was taking a bath.
"If you're gonna shoot, shoot. Don't talk."
Which proves that DC needs some common-sense concealed-by-soap-bubbles-carry legislation for gay bathhouses.
We've been austermuhled.
So, are these nuts gonna draw on each other if one cuts in line for a half-smoke? Do they see themselves as knights roaming the city, ready to stir up some peace with their weapon as needed? I'd hate to be in their heads!
I wholeheartedly agree that Northern Virginia is separate from "RoVA". Rest of Virginia has a long tradition of moronic behaviour. They need to change the signs to
"Virginia is for Morons"
Yeah, because that has been happening all the time in Virginia.
...
I don't get the level of ignorance from comments saying 'omg, there will be bloodbathz!' Do 5 year olds read DCist?
Do people draw on each other in the 49 states that allow carrying of firearms over a half smoke. Seems more like what happens now on DC streets. Come on, can't you antinuts engage in rational thought?
Give me my guns and my vote!
How about half a vote, a disassebled gun, and a coupon book to Junkpunchers? They deliver to most of DC except Ward 8 because the Junkpunch Man kept getting junkpunched. He's applied for a concealed carry permit, though.
How much to junkpunch you if I use the coupon?
Monday is 2-4-1 junkpunches; Tuesday is half-off junkpunches; Fist F**king Fridays gets you a cockpuch, a free side of teabagging, and a medium Coke.
I support arming everyone, including toddlers and animals. We can't truly be safe until all carbon-based life forms are packing heat.
Well, to be fair, the toddlers are training with bb guns and working their way up to the real thing, so hopefully this will reduce the amount of collateral damage in future running gun battles. Their accuracy with rocks, however, remains unparalleled.
I read "bb guns" as "bbq guns", and immediately thought how awesome that would be - little babies shooting barbeque into your mouth. I don't think I had enough breakfast.
I am totally down with a flaming Carolina pulled pork thrower. It releases a hail of smoked shoulder with pepper vinegar sauce. I hear DoD is working on a Kosher version for the Middle East.
You could either catch it with a bread mitt or just straight in the mouth. Deadly yet delicious.
Why the Pentagon hasn't hired us I will never know.
It's worth noting that toddlers playing with pellet guns are likely responsible for all the shattered bus shelters.
What, no Last Night's Action? I mean, sure, it was an afternoon game, but it still happened, and the results were quite sexy.
Aaron may have gotten laid - i.e., a different kind of action - so cut the guy some slack!
Sexy results indeed!
Now stop stalking Aaron.
I think Last Night's Action, Sexy Edition is covered by WizzyLiz.
I left my JUMBO SLICED PIZZA tied up outside at the P street WHOLE FOODS and when I returned. The pizza was gone. If was allowed to wear a gun. This wouldn't have happened. I blame society for all my qualms. Oh I wish I had a thesarusus!
I really wish DC would make Tasers legal. Since they are single use and cost $300, they are rarely used in crimes (kind of like Chris Rock's $5000 bullet). I'll spare the details, but they can be easily traced after use.
My wife can't handle the shotty, and we would both feel better if she had one in the nightstand for when I travel.
You just gave me an awesome idea. One would use the taser to re-heat JUMBO SLICE PIZZA. It's a win/win situation.
Shoulda got a 20. I could handle one at 8.
I think the DCist secret to advertising success can definitely be described as:
Take guns. Add Molly. Profit.
"Dog Snatching Foiled by Armed Citizen."
Since the overwhelming majority of District residents are against gun ownership, can't we just tar and feather the handful of gun nuts who live amongst us and run them out of town? Amy "Timothy" McVey can "defend" herself in Virginia.
Only's if you can get there from Hell first.
What are you going to run them out with? Your keychain pepper spray?
I'm thinking harsh language, sarcasm, or Nickles-level halitosis. That $h!t can strip paint.
Higher taxes. A special Douchebag Tax.
loiter en mass in front of their homes while loudly singing "Hey Hey Ho Ho All the guns have got to go", because neither loitering nor noise nuisances can be enforced in DC.
Do it night after night.
Gee, why dont you go to Trinidad - where guns are being used and do that. Oh thats right, you are only pissed off at people who want to legally own guns.
Go to Trinidad?
Even better, like Trinidad is the only neighborhood with crime problems?
Look, friend: You have no idea who I am or what goes on in the block, neighborhood, etc where I live.
L-A-Z-Y
Actually, that was meant for Alexalexalex. The point is, that the most of the "outraged" against gun owners here is directed at legal gun owners-when they are not part of the problem.
Ah yes. The George Wallace defense. If blacks want to vote, they should move.
are you freaking kidding me? you're quoting the Washington Times as actual news? please. obviously they only polled the morons who read that ridiculous newspaper - I guess that includes you Martin?