Second Amendment Comes First

The Constitution provides that the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The Framers of the Constitution did not restrict Congress's power on a whim. It was, and still remains, to protect rights that are basic to the preservation of our republic.

That's why March 9, 2007, could be viewed as a banner day for all Americans. On that day, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia overturned the District's oppressive firearms laws, which were some of the most draconian in the nation, thereby ensuring that the citizens of Washington, D.C., will be able to enjoy this important civil liberty.

Unfortunately, D.C. residents will likely have to wait a year or more to legally possess a working firearm for self-defense in the home, as the decision has been stayed pending en banc review or an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, as promised by the mayor.

Meanwhile, I recently joined my colleagues in sponsoring the Personal Protection Act to completely overturn the District's gun ban and restore to the people their basic right to keep and bear arms.