odd allies
Gun ban foes stress safety
Michael Doyle, Mcclatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON - Gay gun owners who call themselves Pink Pistols say they'll be safer if the Supreme Court strikes down Washington's strict handgun ban.
They aren't alone. Jewish gun owners, women and disabled veterans, among others, say that they're vulnerable and need the protection of firearms.
More than 65 groups have filed friend of the court briefs in the case, surpassing the attention paid to such hot-button issues as affirmative action and abortion.
The case, scheduled for oral arguments March 18, challenges a District of Columbia handgun ban that was imposed in 1976. Only retired district police officers can legally possess handguns. District residents must keep rifles unloaded and either disassembled or secured with trigger locks.
"Even in their homes, [gay] individuals are at risk of murder, aggravated assault and other forms of hate violence because of their sexual orientation," Pink Pistols declared in its amicus brief. "Thus, for certain [gay] individuals, the possession of firearms in the home is essential for a sense of personal security."
Some of the groups have been assembled to crank up the volume for the case. Texas Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, for instance, has rallied Vice President Dick Cheney and 304 other members of Congress in opposition to Washington's gun law.
UNC-Pembroke sociologist Fran Fuller has joined Idaho state legislator Maxine Bell, California Assemblywoman Jean Fuller and 123 other women to stress the necessity of gun ownership.
"The district's current prohibition against handguns ... effectively eliminates a woman's ability to defend her very life and those of her children against violent attack," the female legislators and professors said in their brief.
Some long-standing groups have also weighed in, including the Wisconsin-based Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership and, supporting the national capital's strict handgun ban, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Bar Association.
Michael Doyle, Mcclatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON - Gay gun owners who call themselves Pink Pistols say they'll be safer if the Supreme Court strikes down Washington's strict handgun ban.
They aren't alone. Jewish gun owners, women and disabled veterans, among others, say that they're vulnerable and need the protection of firearms.
More than 65 groups have filed friend of the court briefs in the case, surpassing the attention paid to such hot-button issues as affirmative action and abortion.
The case, scheduled for oral arguments March 18, challenges a District of Columbia handgun ban that was imposed in 1976. Only retired district police officers can legally possess handguns. District residents must keep rifles unloaded and either disassembled or secured with trigger locks.
"Even in their homes, [gay] individuals are at risk of murder, aggravated assault and other forms of hate violence because of their sexual orientation," Pink Pistols declared in its amicus brief. "Thus, for certain [gay] individuals, the possession of firearms in the home is essential for a sense of personal security."
Some of the groups have been assembled to crank up the volume for the case. Texas Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, for instance, has rallied Vice President Dick Cheney and 304 other members of Congress in opposition to Washington's gun law.
UNC-Pembroke sociologist Fran Fuller has joined Idaho state legislator Maxine Bell, California Assemblywoman Jean Fuller and 123 other women to stress the necessity of gun ownership.
"The district's current prohibition against handguns ... effectively eliminates a woman's ability to defend her very life and those of her children against violent attack," the female legislators and professors said in their brief.
Some long-standing groups have also weighed in, including the Wisconsin-based Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership and, supporting the national capital's strict handgun ban, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Bar Association.
0
-
What's with the American Bar Association? Their liberal leaning has overcome their concern for constitutionality? 0 -
quote:Originally posted by River Rat
What's with the American Bar Association? Their liberal leaning has overcome their concern for constitutionality?
so...
a Gay PAC gets together and formally opposes washington's gun ban and not a single relevent comment?0 -
From a large percentage of opinions on this forum, I would say the gay and lesbian community is correct in filing a friend of the court brief. 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
3 comments