The District’s first step toward complying with the Supreme Court ruling allowing handguns in homes, a bill expected to be proposed Tuesday, would allow residents to register handguns for the first time in 32 years and would remove requirements for trigger locks and disassembly.
Council member Phil Mendelson, at-large Democrat, plans to propose the bill, which in addition to addressing the two main issues in the court’s decision also calls for a waiting period for gun registration and a mandatory ballistics record for every gun registered.
“Ballistics are like fingerprints for a gun, and it’s just an added measure for safety,” said Mendelson spokesman Jason Shedlock. “The council member feels these are a couple of issues that we can address as a starting point.”
A draft of the bill, made available Monday, does not specify the waiting period but requires residents to obtain a registration certificate before taking possession of their gun.
Several of the other 12 council members said Monday that they support Mr. Mendelson’s bare-boned legislation and that it will be defined and expanded through the hearing process, which could begin as early as next month.
“I think sending a message that we’re not going to drag our feet in complying with the Supreme Court decision is important,” said council member Jim Graham, Ward 1 Democrat, who is co-sponsoring the bill. “We’re going to look at all the registration requirements to see how they might be strengthened.”
Council member Yvette Alexander, Ward 7 Democrat and a co-sponsor, said she is concerned with a provision of the bill regarding trigger locks and other measures for safe storage.
“The checks and balances with personal protection are going to be tough,” she said.
Council member Harry Thomas Jr., Ward 5 Democrat, said Monday that he was reviewing the bill to consider amendments.
Mr. Shedlock said public hearings will address issues, including a requirement for owners to register their guns at Metropolitan Police Department headquarters.
The Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a 5-4 vote that the District’s ban on handguns was unconstitutional and said residents should be allowed to own handguns and keep them in their homes for self-defense.
National Rifle Association spokesman Andrew Arulanandam said the group typically does not comment on proposed legislation, but that his group will watch carefully as D.C. officials craft new guidelines regarding the registration of handguns and will advocate for laws designed to address criminal activity rather than restrict gun owners.
“It does sound like the District would like to do less than the minimum to comply,” Mr. Arulanandam said.
Officer Kris Baumann, chairman of the police union labor committee that represents the Metropolitan Police Department, criticized the District’s fight for the gun ban and said city officials waited too long to prepare legislation in the event the ban was overturned.
Officer Baumann said laws directed at strictly regulating gun owners will have little or no effect on crime in the District. He advocates mandatory minimums for gun offenses.
“The idea that there are going to be more guns available to criminals doesn’t make sense,” Officer Baumann said. “We’ve had some [gun thefts] but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the number of guns out there.”
Metropolitan Police officials did not respond to calls for comment Monday.
D.C. officials largely responded Thursday to the ruling with uncertainty because, they said, the complexity of the case made it difficult to predict how D.C. law would have to change.
Another outstanding issue is the D.C. law that prohibits all semiautomatic guns, such as the 9 mm pistols city police carry. The pistols are considered machine guns because they can fire 12 or more rounds without being reloaded.
Council Chairman Vincent C. Gray said D.C. officials will consult with legal professionals to better understand the nuances of the Supreme Court ruling but now are just trying to cover the most outstanding issues of gun registration and safety.
“I think there will be a lot of ramifications to the [court’s] decision,” said Mr. Gray, a Democrat. “I’d rather not venture out at this stage with an opinion, and we reserve judgment until we get more input on the issue.”
The Washington Times reported Saturday that NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre said the group opposed the ban on semiautomatic weapons but did not say whether it would take legal action.
The group has filed lawsuits against gun bans in Chicago, San Francisco, Evanston, Ill., Morton Grove, Ill., and Oak Park, Ill.
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