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The District of Columbia’s attorney general has asked to stay a federal judge’s ruling overturning the city’s ban on carrying handguns in public.
Beyond a stay pending appeal, Attorney General Irv Nathan has asked the court to “stay its ruling for no less than 180 days, to enable the Council of the District of Columbia to obtain public input and enact a compliant licensing mechanism. In addition, the Court should, in the interest of public safety and clarity for the public and government, grant an immediate stay of its ruling while it evaluates this motion.”
The Council is currently on recess until September, which Nathan cites as a reason for the stay: “The Court should stay its Order here to allow … the Council and the people of the District of Columbia time to develop a considered, responsible piece of legislation, and to eliminate the uncertainty that has arisen over the scope of the Court’s Order.”
Officers with the Metropolitan Police Department have been instructed not to arrest registered handgun owners carrying in public, as have Park Police officers. Non-D.C. residents can carry in public as long as they follow their home state’s laws.
A spokesperson for the Office of the Attorney General said he doesn’t when know the court will act upon the request. So in the meantime, carry on, registered handgun owners.
