Washington, D.C. is the nation’s political capital, but tragically it’s also known as America’s murder capital. In an effort to curb homicides, the city banned its citizens from owning handguns starting in 1975. More than 30 years later, the U.S. Supreme Court recently overturned the law, saying "the absolute prohibition of handguns" was unconstitutional. The decision sparked a legal chain reaction as similar lawsuits were filed in Chicago and San Francisco. Was this the right verdict for the safety of D.C. citizens and the nation?
More than 30 years ago, handguns were banned in the District of Columbia on the argument that doing so would reduce crime in the nation’s capitol. Over the years, the District has racked up murder and violent crime rates that have proven otherwise. It is not reasonable to disarm potential crime victims and leave them at the mercy of wanton criminals who ignore the gun ban. The city has consistently been at or near the top in homicides and violent crimes.
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