WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The Supreme Court’s impending review of the District of Columbia’s gun-control laws promises to be historic in many ways. It will be the first time in 70 years that the nation’s highest court will sit in judgment to parse the words in the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

Will the court side with the National Rifle Association and most gun-rights groups that argue the Second Amendment grants an individual the right to bear arms?

Will the judges agree with D.C., a handful of states, and the U.S. solicitor general that states have the right to regulate gun ownership, down to D.C.’s restrictive laws that essentially ban handguns?

More than 50 groups filed “amicus” briefs, which are legal arguments in support of one side or another. I have read quite a few. Most were legalistic and statistical in nature; the one that caught my eye was an indictment not of D.C.’s gun laws but of the city’s police department.

It’s a curious legal document for a number of reasons. This brief comes from citizens of Ohio who neither live in D.C. nor do business in our fair town. Yet they purport to know what’s best for us.

The document names two interest groups: first, the Buckeye Firearms Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to defending “the rights of Ohio citizens to use firearms for all legal activities.” Second, the National Council for Investigations and Security Services, a trade group for private security agencies.

Their argument is simple: Because the Metropolitan Police Department has failed to protect residents, the city has no right to ban handguns. Furthermore, they expand the language of the Second Amendment that “must be interpreted as an individual right to keep and bear firearms for defense of self and others.”

It’s the “defense of self and others” that goes beyond the Second Amendment.

And it’s their hyperbolic indictment of the police that undercuts their basic argument.

Before all the camo-clad, gun-crazed zealots train a red dot on my forehead, allow me to explain that I am a card-carrying NRA member; and I am a frequent critic of the local cops.

The brief states: D.C.’s police force “has failed to provide adequate police services to the District of Columbia citizens.”

Agreed, in part. Like most big cities, more than half of D.C. is safe and safely patrolled. Parts are controlled by thugs.

The Ohio folks further state that the MPD displays “corruption, incompetence and outright misfeasance in the operation of the department.”

Agreed, in past tense. The Ohio group relies mostly on decades-old events. “Cronyism,” it says, “thy name is Marion Barry.” Barry has not been mayor since 1996.

If the private security firms have a beef with how the city regulates them, they should take that up with the D.C. Council, not the Supreme Court.

And if the Ohio folks ask locals — or cops — if lifting the gun ban would make their lives more safe, they would hear most say no.

What happens in Ohio should stay in Ohio.

Comments from Examiner Readers

10:37 AM MST on Fri., May. 9, 2008 re: "The mayor, the policeman, the aftermath of a shooting"

Dear Mr. Fenty said:
Working for the citizens means doing what is best for all citizens. Making assumtions about a police officer's actions before an investigation is conducted and using our money to pay for an attempted murderer's funeral are contrary to "working for the citizens" and, I pray you will find on your next re-election campaign, is also contrary to working for the mayor, which is obviously your true agenda.

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10:29 AM MST on Fri., May. 9, 2008 re: "The mayor, the policeman, the aftermath of a shooting"

Examiner Reader said:
This mayor needs to resign. I think what he did was wrong under any circumstances but to take the stand he did, before the investigation was even completed, is unconscionable. Now he is not even man enough to apologize after an independent agency cleared the officers. I hope the FOP does everything in its power to make sure he is not re-elected.

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10:04 PM MST on Wed., May. 7, 2008 re: "Welcome to Gulag D.C."

MPD Supporter said:
Haskel and Clay.... WE, your brothers and sisters IN LAW, are with you, behind you, beside you, every step of the way! WE applaude your patience with letting this rediculous investigation run it's course. Only a truly riteous person could have risen above all of it. WE are proud to see that despite all the lies, rumors and hateful statements that have been made about you, you have managed to maintained your professionalism and handle the hard times with dignity. They are not over yet, but the day will come when they will be. Until then, be strong and KNOW that we are going through this WITH you! Much Love brothers, MUCH LOVE!

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7:51 PM MST on Wed., May. 7, 2008 re: "Officer James Haskel tells his side of story"

DC Resident said:
Officer Haskel, thank you for your service to the city. I am sorry this happened to you. You did what you had to do in the situation, and there are many people who support you completely and feel appreciative of your service as a police officer.

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1:37 PM MST on Wed., May. 7, 2008 re: "Klingle Road heads back toward nature"

Examiner Reader said:
I hope it's over, but fear it's not. Someone on the CC has brought the matter (Klingle) back up, or is trying to. I wish we'd nail that coffin shut, once and for all. I am not "elite," but I want that road shut down.

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7:45 PM MST on Mon., May. 5, 2008 re: "Welcome to Gulag D.C."

The Truth said:
This article is, as every piece of cowardly puppet journalism in DC, completely false in it's attempt to paint OPC in the same light as a Ukranian prison camp. The author is simply another hired bitch of the police department tasked with defending their every move (no matter how corrupt). The DC police are far from the heroic public servants he would have you believe and, in fact have still not managed to get this country's capital city under control. It's better off than it was 20 years ago, but for god's sake it's the CAPITAL of our ENTIRE NATION and the police cannot stop one single crime spree!!!! Perhaps instead of this shameful article, the author should try his hand at some legitamite reporting....but that just wouldn't be his style now would it.

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1:38 PM MST on Thu., May. 1, 2008 re: "Welcome to Gulag D.C."

DC Lawyer said:
Gee, I wonder if "CommonSenseDC" works for the office of police complaints. No one in their right mind would attest to the truth and accuracy of something they did not write and were not given an opportunity to correct or amend. The police are not trying to be above the law. They want the same rights as our society gives to everyone else. By the way, who really files these complaints? Ordinary citizens? I don't think so. It's the thugs who know they can use this OPC procedure to retaliate against good cops. The system needs fixing. Thank you Mr. Jaffe for shedding some light on the subject.

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8:14 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Welcome to Gulag D.C."

CommonSenseDC said:
I hear that both citizens and the police have to provide signed, written statements to the Office of Police Complaints, attesting to the truth and accuracy of their accounts. If a cop is unwilling to attest to that, then maybe the officer is trying to cover something up. The old blue wall of silence. I don't think the police should be above the law. Gulag, Schmoo-lag.

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3:24 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Welcome to Gulag D.C."

DC Lawyer said:
How is the Office of Police Complaints investigation procedure possibly legal? Sounds to me that it is not, and I wonder why the D.C. Council is allowing these kinds of investigations to occur. Also, why is the police department allowing its officers to be subjected to this kind of questioning and forced signature of statements? Shouldn't someone be stepping in to prevent this??

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4:28 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 30, 2008 re: "Welcome to Gulag D.C."

Northwest DC said:
No wonder the crime problem in D.C. is escalating, when the city treats its cops so poorly.

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6:23 PM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Charter school movement wins the education war in District"

Examiner Reader said:
Why didn't Rhee say she would fight for a good PUBLIC SCHOOL? EXACTLY Let's talk about improve curriculum and standards --- EXACTLY But my thinking is, that was never part of the equation. The problem always was how to privatize the public school system? Harry Jaffe, Marc Fischer never talked about the nuts and bolts of improving ANYthing. It was always wholesale change, bust those damn unions at any price. They've done it now. Now, what?

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9:34 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Charter school movement wins the education war in District"

Examiner Reader said:
What is wrong with this picture? Anyone of us could select a private company to run the schools based off of internet research. Rhee hasn't done anything significant since her appointment. All of these "ideas" she's touting were proposed long before her arrival. Janey produced a wonderful Master Education Plan and said it wouldn't overhaul the system overnight...he got canned. Rhee says the same thing and she's labeled an innovator. Please! You people who keep singing her praises please tell me what has she done to improve the system. And please, don't give me rhetoric about the firings...that was easy. Let's talk about improve curriculum and standards. Let's not talk about closings nor restructuring as that was mandated by NCLB not Rhee. Janey, too, had proposed closings just on a well thougth out schedule that would save the city $$$$. I could've selected these private partners and saved the city $20million in new salaries for Rheinoso and Rhee's "expert" staffs.

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7:26 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Charter school movement wins the education war in District"

Examiner Reader said:
The Examiner needs to do research!!! Charter schools F - Why didn't Rhee say she would fight for a good PUBLIC SCHOOL? Parents - citizens - educators -Know- its not about education its about money $$$ There is money to be made and a great tax write off in charter schools- Rhee, if allowed will make her friends rich! Its not about the children!! Research every charter school in the city- look at the money - the people - follow the money!! The City Council made the biggest set of mistakes - 1.Fenty taking over schools 2.appointing Rhee. - I ask- Do we have the least qualified group of school leaders in this country?? City Council reverse the curse!!!!!When will it really be about children and education- When will the City Council put "REAL" money in the Public Schools? With correct funding to provide the best programs and resources for success!! PULIC SCHOOLS WITH A PUBLIC AGENDA!!!

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5:36 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 24, 2008 re: "Charter school movement wins the education war in District"

Examiner Reader said:
This seems to be the trend in this country -- exactly right. But it is the trend mostly in cities that have a weak municipal structure, such as the District's which is built-in. And such as New Orlean's. The private contractors took advantage of the devastation in the late summer of 2005 in NOLA to swoop in and privatize the hell out of the place. Cities and suburbs that are stronger and richer have less privatization.

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8:25 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 23, 2008 re: "Charter school movement wins the education war in District"

Examiner Reader said:
You're right if it is in fact all "about educating our children." In the same respect, it is also about strengthening public education as a platform for providing quality education for those who believe in public education as a viable option. For some, public education is the only option. Rhee was hired to fix the public schools in the District. Her primary focus should be on that and not outsourcing or contracting out her responsibilities to further weaken public education in this city. This seems to be the trend in this country, don't spend the time and effort to fix it...give it away to an entity to make money off of it. Public education in this city has systematically been destroyed by those who seek to cripple the potential of young African-American youth in urban areas like the District of Columbia. While there are a few good charter schools in the city, many of the others are no better than some of the neighbor public schools. Don't believe the hype.

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6:37 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 23, 2008 re: "Charter school movement wins the education war in District"

Examiner Reader said:
Do you call winning 5 out of 71 charters schools making AYP? They are winning at making the parents feel good, but the academic facts they me they are not meeting the standards on a large scale. It is not a competition if everyone doesn't play by the same rules. Stop trying to dupe people and give them the facts. Check out the DCPS website for the results listed. If public schools are only judged on the "test" so should the charters or ther should be no comparison at all.

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12:20 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 22, 2008 re: "Fighting words at Wilson High: Is it racism or just reality?"

Examiner Reader said:
Wilson has had Oak Hill students for years. And yes, on paper Wilson is highly diverse, but walk around to see the classes and you will see segregation hard at work. Wilson has had its share of problems and violence for years. The former principal was just better able to keep it out of the news. The school is a sinking ship!

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12:02 PM MST on Fri., Apr. 18, 2008 re: "Justice Department is gone, but cops still feel handcuffed"

DC resident said:
Why does the police department discipline its officers so frequently? As a D.C. resident, I would like to think the department would encourage police work instead of creating disincentives to fight crime.

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4:52 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008 re: "Free D.C. � from taxes"

DC Voter said:
The idea I have been developing, is to suspend the federal tax for DC residents, and have a relatively flat tax of, say 17%, with the first $20,000 or $30,000 exempted (whatever works to make it fair for the working poor, but simple for everyone else). The raise in local taxes from approx. 10% would bring revenues in to cover motorcades and other federal tasks.

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1:32 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 12, 2008 re: "�Shameful� profiteering over four dead sisters"

DC Citizen said:
This is one time I agree with Peter Nickles, where were the Family members when the children needed them? I know dodging their responsibility. Now that the free cash cow DC Goverment some how is implicated, just grab a ambulance chaser(lawyer)and hopefully get a wind fall. What that family member really need is a back room beat down with hospitalization to follow.

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10:46 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "�Shameful� profiteering over four dead sisters"

Examiner Reader said:
Is it really a generalization? Most abandoned children are in the familes of minorites? I don't think that is what was being stated anyway. The poster was simply stating the truth. If you can't handle don't label it as racist, because that makes you look like a racist Troy. And someone who is in denial.

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9:50 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "�Shameful� profiteering over four dead sisters"

Troy Patterson said:
It is shameful to make racist statments using the anonymity of "Examiner Reader". Not all black fathers abandon their children and it is a gross generalization to make these statements in such a tragic situation. To the issue: I would be appalled if the city so much as discussed settling this case. It was the teachers, principals and social workers that made an effort to help these girls. That they fell through the cracks is the fault of the family that for nearly a year made no effort to find or see these girls. Peter Nickles is right - that is shameful. And the attorney that helped put this case together should be made to pay the salaries of Peter Nickels and any staff, lawyer or janitor that has to do any work to clean up the mess of this lawsuit.

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8:17 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 11, 2008 re: "�Shameful� profiteering over four dead sisters"

Examiner Reader said:
What's the difference between this and suing companies and government agencies for discrimination because you only have one thing to trade on, your skin color. Just dump your kids on the community, refust to pay child care, then claim to be damaged after they are gone. What scum.

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11:29 AM MST on Thu., Apr. 10, 2008 re: "Bad guys talk tough to keep bad boys from jail"

Fact checking is your friend said:
Mr. Fulwood is NOT the head of the US Parole Commission, he is simply one of the Commissioners. Chairman Reily is the head, and Vice-Chairman Mitchell is the second in command. A simple search of the DOJ website will reveal this however I am sure that is asking too much considering how hard it is to check facts in this day and age.

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3:05 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 8, 2008 re: "The D.C. family business riots could not drive out"

Examiner Reader said:
Hey Harry, I read this book called "Dream City," (co-authored by Harry Jaffe) where it said that Stokeley Carmichael tried to close stores in respect of Dr King, and when things got out of hand, tried to stop people from looting. And then I read your column that said "Stokeley......walked into the Peoples Drug Store and looted it." Well, which is it? Kojo.

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1:46 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Fighting words at Wilson High: Is it racism or just reality?"

Examiner Reader said:
After reading your comment about mommy reading the child to sleep or shooting up in the back room (not quoted verbatim).. I am glad that you are not an educator or responsible for every child in Washington, D.C., having a right to an education (Rhee's job not her crusade)....

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11:34 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "My neighbor the tax-scam artist"

Examiner Reader said:
I think that she should have stopped awhile she was ahead. This shows how our system fails, it took entirely too long to catch this woman.

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11:10 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Fighting words at Wilson High: Is it racism or just reality?"

Examiner Reader said:
If Rhee and her team can't get Wilson under control, what's going to happen at Woodson SHS, Anacostia SHS, Ballou SHS, Coolidge SHS and the rest of our high schools? They should have a climate that's good for teaching & learning. All schools should be getting ready for the DC CAS test. I'm sure the DC CAS test scores will reflect how Chancellor Rhee has impacted the 10th grade test scores (only grade tested) in our high schools. My guess is that we we continue to get the same scores from our high school as in the past. Rhee and her team has yet to present an original idea on how Wilson SHS and the high schools can make AYP.

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4:13 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Fighting words at Wilson High: Is it racism or just reality?"

Examiner Reader said:
In the DCPS there are some bad folks that need to go find other employment. I don't think Rhee should take a brush and paint the entire school system as ineffective and threaten principals and teachers across the board. You get results more with honey than with vinegar. My question, did Chancellor Rhee make a guarantee to Mayor Fenty?

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3:43 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Fighting words at Wilson High: Is it racism or just reality?"

Examiner Reader said:
The same is true for the new DCPS administration team. RHEE and her team are a group neophytes trying to learn how to run a urban school system. Most of them are from the Cleveland Public School System which ranks as one of the highest in the country for drop out rate and the lowest for graduation rate. RHEE threaten all of the DCPS principals when she came on board and said to each principals that if you can not GUARANTEE that your AYP scores would increase by at least 10 points you would be fired. AYP scores have never been the indicator of and effective principal. This leadership style must go. Again, Rhee inexperience of not EVER having been a principal or certified as a teacher could the reason for her callus attitude towards the principals and teachers. The moral of teachers and principals throughout the school system is very low. There will be a large group of folks leaving this year. I'm sure this ill make Rhee and the leadership happy! WHAT AOUT ABOUT THE STUDENTS?

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3:16 AM MST on Wed., Apr. 2, 2008 re: "Fighting words at Wilson High: Is it racism or just reality?"

Examiner Reader said:
IN DCPS schools our students are taught year after year by group of neophytes (Teach For America teachers) with varying degrees of preparation. They are only looking for a temporary job for a couple years. We continue put these TFA teachers in classrooms just to fill a vacancy. The TFA teachers have not yet learned to be effective with DCPS students. They have little or no classroom skills. We are doing our DCPS school system major damage every day a TFA teachers walks into a DCPS classroom. DCPS needs veteran (experienced) teachers who have demonstrated they know how to teach urban students.

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2:03 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 19, 2008 re: "District residents are pawns in Supreme Court gun case"

Former DC resident said:
Jaffe makes no sense as usual. As a DC native one reason I left was the DC governments violation of my gun rights. The DC gun ban has been totally ineffective at stopping gun violence in DC.

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7:19 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 19, 2008 re: "District residents are pawns in Supreme Court gun case"

Examiner Reader said:
Ban motor vehicles, because they kill more people than guns. Ban alcohol because it is at the root of more motor vehicle deaths than any other cause. Ban people, because people kill other people. If DC wants to deal more effectively with crime involving guns, its courts system should lock up all criminals for long periods of time. Murderers, robbers, rapists, drug users and drug dealers, burglars, perpetrators of domestic violence. Eventually, the bulk of miscreants will be behind bars.

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4:53 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 19, 2008 re: "District residents are pawns in Supreme Court gun case"

Common Phacking Sense said:
Well, the citizens of DC may "have to live with it", but at least now they'll have a choice of defending themselves so they can "live with it".

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4:45 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 19, 2008 re: "District residents are pawns in Supreme Court gun case"

Examiner Reader said:
About time! I would guess now that the 'Council' will now be forced to make ownership legal - but they'll still outlaw ownership of ammunition.

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1:23 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 19, 2008 re: "District residents are pawns in Supreme Court gun case"

Examiner Reader said:
D.C. gun ban going down in flames. Where did Washington D.C. find this guy to defend against the gun ban being lifted. The justices made him look like a fool, even Mrs. Ginsburg made him look dumb.

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3:26 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "Boss Fenty beats up on D.C. Council"

Examiner Reader said:
This is the worst D.C. Council ever. They are a bunch of cowards and opportunists, led by that weakling, Vince Gray. Nice guys are not cut out for hardball, city politics. The people have put trust in Council members to carry out the will and the best interests of the people. If that were not the case, then there would be no Council, just the Mayor! Wake up people!

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1:27 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008 re: "Boss Fenty beats up on D.C. Council"

lady d.c. said:
These journalists are pathetic. Pretty much the whole city is plagued by corrupt cons that claim they believe in making thier citizens worthy taxpayers. LOL

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7:04 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "D.C. gun case attracts gun lovers from Ohio"

Bgirl said:
I'd like to know why criminals in this city are the only ones with rights to bear arms. There are more shootings in this city with a gun ban than in other cities where you can legally carry. How can it be so lopsided? Why not be able to defend yourself against some of these idiots, maybe they would stop preying on us.

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6:57 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Will Target all but consume Columbia Heights neighborhood?"

Bgirl said:
Won't shop there anyway, nowhere to park as usual. Target is the kind of place you need to load up on stuff not casually stroll in for for batteries. Don't care the area anyway.

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4:40 AM MST on Wed., Mar. 5, 2008 re: "Will Target consume Columbia Heights?"

Examiner Reader said:
Will Target consume Col Hts? Maybe. But slowly. The Target will eventually deteriorate - service will start out super! and then slowly decline to city standards for such big box stores. Long lines like at the Safeway. Many people will still prefer to drive out to the Target in the suburbs. Then there is no beautifying such a negative space. It will hang on a good long while, but you cannot "revive" a neighborhood through a stupid box store, especially one like Target.

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1:40 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 27, 2008 re: "D.C.'s prime-time horror show"

Examiner Reader said:
The address is actually 4249. I own an apartment building right across the street at 4248. More to the point, the tenants in that area have a lot to do with the area being "dead" as the author says. Trash doesn't just fall out of the sky. It is put there by people that take no pride in where they live. The city can't change this. The landlords can't change this. This is a people problem.

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1:16 PM MST on Wed., Feb. 27, 2008 re: "City welfare agency�s sordid tale of abuse"

Examiner Reader said:
Are you crazy? explain to me why this couple should be on an abuse registry after a judge and the doctors said there was no abuse? Why don't we just decide to put YOU on an abuse registry because it will be helpful if anything happens to your kids. And how many people read this and learn -- never take your kid to the hospital. That's the sorriest and scariest lesson learned from this family's ordeal.

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10:58 AM MST on Wed., Feb. 27, 2008 re: "City welfare agency�s sordid tale of abuse"

Examiner Reader said:
I can see where it is helpful to keep them on the registry because if something like that happens again a flag will go up. Too many cases like this slip through the cracks and a child found dead. On the other hand, it should be known that the case was justified so they won't penalized unless it happens again.