D.C. Young Republicans Call Upon City Council to Respect Self-defense Rights of Law-abiding Citizens

The District of Columbia Young Republicans (DCYR), one of the largest Republican grassroots organizations focused on the District, tonight called upon the City Council of the District of Columbia to amend the District law banning possession of handguns by law-abiding citizens to allow the possession of such firearms within the home for the purposes of self-defense.

The resolution also embraces the “right to carry” position and calls upon the City Council to hold hearings on the creation of a Citizen Marshal program, consisting of a certified gun safety course and training for those citizens that pass a mandatory background check, that would permit possession of a concealed firearm for the purpose of crime prevention. Such an action would bring the District within the American mainstream, given that 46 states permit concealed carrying of firearms under some circumstances. The resolution passed nearly unanimously.

The text of the resolution:

DCYR Resolution Concerning D.C. Gun Control Laws
Adopted March 13, 2006

Whereas every individual has a fundamental right to defend him or herself, or another, from an imminent threat of death or bodily harm;

Whereas since 1976 D.C. gun control laws absolutely bar law-abiding citizens from possessing handguns for self-defense purposes;

Whereas 46 states permit concealed carrying of firearms in some circumstances and 38 states permit the practice with few restrictions;

Whereas nearly 200 more people each year continue to be murdered in the District despite 30 years of draconian gun control laws;

Whereas right-to-carry states have on average 21% lower total violent crime, 28% lower murder, 43% lower robbery, and 13% lower aggravated assault, compared to the rest of the country;

Therefore be it resolved that:

The D.C. Young Republicans call upon the Council of the District of Columbia:

(a) To amend the District law banning possession of handguns by law-abiding citizens to allow the possession of such firearms within the home for the purposes of self-defense.

(b) To hold hearings on the creation of a Citizen Marshal program, consisting of a certified gun safety course and training for those citizens that pass a mandatory background check, that would permit possession of a concealed firearm for the purpose of crime prevention.