Full 2nd District Court Backs Panel; Upholds 2nd Amendment

The full Second District Court of Appeals refused to rehear the March decision by its panel overturning a District of Columbia law which effectively banned handguns within the District. The decision in the Parker case is the first by an appellate court to rely on the 2nd Amendment to overturn a gun control law. It is the second decision to find that the 2nd Amendment protects an individual right of citizens to keep firearms.

DC Mayor Adrian Fenty vowed to continue the fight for gun control,

"We are committed to combating gun violence. Residents expect us to fight aggressively to make sure laws are as strong as possible."

The mayor says the District has two options: file a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court or try for new legislative initiatives.


The decision to deny a rehearing the case en banc was 6-4.

Related links:
Discussion of Parker
Importance of Second Amendment as proxy for candidate's views
Potential political ju-jitsu