D.C. passes new gun regulations, registrations to begin tomorrow

The Washington Post reports that the D.C. Council passed emergency legislation Tuesday night in the wake of the Supreme Court's Heller ruling (see my post here for details of what D.C. was proposing to change):

The D.C. Council unanimously approved emergency legislation last night that ends the strictest handgun ban in the country and voted 12 to 1 to approve the transfer of almost $125 million to renovate schools by fall -- two major issues that showed the council's complex relationship with Mayor Adrian M. Fenty.

The gun bill establishes regulations for residents to keep handguns in their homes legally to comply with last month's historic Supreme Court decision that found the city's 32-year prohibition of handguns unconstitutional.

City leaders say the legislation goes as far as it can on gun regulations while respecting the high court's ruling. Weapons must be unloaded, disassembled or trigger-locked, except when there is a "threat of immediate harm to a person" in the home.

The legislation also requires that guns remain inside homes. It requires eye and written exams for gun owners, and ballistics tests conducted by police.

Opponents of the gun ban say the new legislation and the city's continued prohibition of semiautomatic weapons are not in accordance with the high court's decision. Fenty (D) and council members, presenting a unified front on the gun ban, say they are prepared for lawsuits.

Separately, the Post reports that D.C. will begin registering guns tomorrow:

D.C. police will start the gun registration process at 7 a.m. tomorrow, when the department opens an office at police headquarters at 300 Indiana Ave. NW.

It is the start of the 180-day amnesty period in which residents may register handguns they have had illegally, or guns from other states.

An officer from the gun unit will meet the applicant at the door and take temporary possession of the gun to ensure safety at headquarters.

Officers will tag the gun and conduct ballistics tests before returning the gun to the owner. Paperwork indicating that registration is in process will be provided.

About 14 days later, after an FBI background check, the gun will be officially registered.

Gotta love the whole "we'll meet you at the door and take your gun to ensure safety" bit. Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, Indiana Representative Mark Souder (R) has introduced a bill to repeal D.C.'s gun restrictions:

WASHINGTON – The mayor and other officials in Washington, D.C., are trying to circumvent the Supreme Court’s rejection of the city’s gun ban, Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd, says. So he is trying to repeal all restrictions the city has on guns.

“Their intent is basically to try to get around the court ruling,” Souder said. “In other words, ban the gun, keep all the strict registration, track all the ammunition and, in effect, keep a D.C. gun ban fully operating as if there hadn’t been a court decision.”

He’s pushed the congressional levers to force a vote on his bill to overturn the city’s ban of semiautomatic handguns, its registration requirements and its limits on ammunition.

With an anti-gun Democrat-controlled Congress, the chances of Rep. Souder's bill passing are probably pretty slim.