Legislation revising the District’s gun regulations passed the House today in a 266-152 vote. From the AP:

The bill, sponsored by Mississippi freshman Democrat Travis Childers, repeals the District’s semiautomatic handgun ban and overturns D.C. law requiring that firearms kept in the home be locked up and inoperable. It allows D.C. residents to purchase guns from federally licensed dealers in Maryland and Virginia and repeals what critics claimed were burdensome registration requirements.

Given that the D.C. Council loosened restrictions yesterday, parts of the Childers legislation would merely double up on changes the city has already made. More seriously, though, it would do away with the existing registration process and severely curtail the city’s ability to pass any further regulations.

Pelosi green-lighted the legislation in order to provide cover for vulnerable Blue Dog Democrats in the November elections. One explained the logic behind their vote in favor:

“‘Number one, I’m a pro-gun Democrat,’ said Rep. Mike Ross, D-Ark. ‘Number 2, if the government of the District of Columbia can take your guns away from you in our nation’s capital, Prescott, Arkansas, and many other small towns across the country could be next.'”

Wait; what? Is Rep. Ross saying that the D.C. Council has somehow gained extra-legislative powers and can impose its will on small towns in middle America? If so, heck, we’ve got plenty of legislative ideas we’d love to see forced on little Prescott. If that’s not what he’s saying, we’re confused. How would the District’s decision affect Arkansas, let alone any other state? Oh yeah — it won’t.

Given that the D.C. Council already moved to revise the regulations, the House’s vote is a crassly political effort to satisfy the NRA. It’s especially disappointing because it tramples on the principle of allowing local governments to make local decisions — and it’s a group of Democrats leading the charge.

Image of Rep. Childers taken from his House website