The D.C. Council is poised to pass a law Tuesday that lets permitted gun owners carry concealed weapons in public — with restrictions.
The legislation was crafted grudgingly by lawmakers after a federal judge found the District’s ban on carrying weapons in public was an unconstitutional act.
The judge, however, put a hold on his ruling so that city officials could forge a new law.
The legislation calls for a lengthy safety course to obtain the concealed carry permit, including 16 hours of classroom training and two hours of firing range training.
Open carry would not be permitted.
The council is likely to pass the bill, but it would only take effect for 90 days and give lawmakers time to appeal, The Washington Post reported.
“We don’t want to be in contempt of court, and we believe that we can accommodate the court with the emergency law and still appeal the decision,” Democrat Tommy Wells told The Washington Post. “But frankly, I am reluctant for the District to be the vehicle by which the gun laws in America are systematically weakened or eviscerated.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.