The Last Gasp of D.C.'s Handgun Law

With a strong likelihood that Washington D.C.'s unconstitutional anti-handgun law will be declared as such before the end of this Supreme Court term the D.C. police are embarking on a truly dumb program:

The District of Columbia police department is preparing to launch a massive new home-by-home search program to confiscate and destroy handguns, despite arguments pending before the U.S. Supreme Court that challenges the constitutionality of its ban on residents having such weapons.

"Right now we're working under the laws that we have, and we'll continue working under the laws that we have," Police Chief Cathy Lanier said in announcing the program that targets all handguns in the district.

The voluntary program would work like this, according to Traci Hughes, an official with the Metropolitan Police Department: Residents of homes or apartments would contact police and ask them to come and search for such weaponry, they would sign a release, and officers would conduct the search.

She said those who voluntarily contact police would be granted amnesty for any illegal weapons uncovered during the search, although they would not be granted amnesty if those weapons would be traced to any previous crime.

Lanier announced the program, calling it a new anti-violence campaign, during a visit to the DC's 7th District Police headquarters.

Officials estimate authorities already are confiscating and destroying 2,000 handguns annually, but that's not enough.

"For those people who have handguns in their home that become stolen or get out in the street in some other way, a child carries it out and puts it in his backpack and takes it to school, or whatever, worries me," Lanier said in a video posted on WUSA-Television.

The announcement comes just days before the U.S. Supreme Court is to hear arguments that challenge the district's handgun ban as a violation of the Second Amendment.

Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for next Tuesday.

What the story doesn't say is what will happen to a homeowner who declines the PD's generous offer to turn their house upside down to look for guns. Will a warrant be obtained and a forced search initiated? Will the homeowner come under some sort of increased scrutiny?

Of course, no real bad guy is going to volunteer his home for a search, so most of the people who will be pestered by this program will be the honest law-abiding citizens. Let's hope the Supreme Court makes quick work of the gun ban and the people of Washington D.C. can start living like citizens of a free country for a change.