D.C. Wants Supreme Court to Hear Gun Ban

WASHINGTON - District of Columbia officials said Monday they plan to petition the Supreme Court as they seek to defend the city's 30-year-old ban on most handguns.

A federal appeals court panel struck down the law in March, rejecting the city's argument that the Second Amendment right to bear arms applied only to militias. The full appeals court refused to reconsider the decision in May. The law has remained in effect during the appeals process.

"We believe we are right on the law and we hope the Supreme Court will agree with us," D.C. Attorney General Linda Singer said.

If the high court takes up the case, it would mark the first time in 70 years that justices will consider the breadth of the Second Amendment. In 2003, the court chose not to take a case that challenged California's ban on assault weapons.

Washington's gun law was enacted in 1976 and bars residents from keeping handguns in their homes and prohibits the carrying of a gun without a license. Registered firearms must be kept unloaded and disassembled.

"The handgun ban in the District of Columbia has saved many lives since then and will continue to do so if it remains enforced," Mayor Adrian M. Fenty said.

The city's sweeping gun ban is matched only by Chicago among large U.S. cities.

The law was challenged by six D.C. residents who said they wanted to keep guns in their homes to protect themselves against crime. Opponents of the law also include the National Rifle Association.

D.C. officials say the gun ban is needed in a city that has been plagued by high homicide rates. Police Chief Cathy Lanier said 75 of the city's 97 homicides this year were committed with firearms.

The city has hired former solicitor general Walter Dellinger to help with the case.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)