NRA CHALLENGES CONSTITUTIONALITY OF FED. HANDGUN BAN FOR LAW ABIDING 18-20 YEAR OLDS

Patrick said:

Actually, hate to rain on the cynicism, but as people who know me will attest I am bountiful of optimism.

The House actually did try to force liberalized gun laws (including shall issue) on the city of DC, and in a way that they thought might be a slam dunk.

It was 2010 and DC had a real full-congressional representative in the works. It was the dream many wanted: true representation with voting power in the House. The Republicans acceded the call (even though many knew it was a guaranteed Dem seat, but 'taxation without representation' actually hits home with some true conservatives). In order to 'balance' the House vote, the Republicans worked a deal where Utah would also get an additional House seat (presumed Republican). In truth, it was a give-away to DC, because the census results were going to give Utah that additional seat anyway.

So what stopped everything?

Guns, In DC. Republicans also required that a provision of the DC home-rule charter be stripped. That provision is the only element that DC had to regulate anything firearm related. Once gone, that regulation would fall to the House, and everyone knew what that meant.

At first, the DC Council said they could swallow the guns, because getting a representative was the most critical goal they were seeking for almost 40 years. It was in their hands, and they figured they could always go back when the House was fully anti-gun and get the regulations put back. But then things changed, and even Eleanor Holmes-Norton (who was going to get a "real vote") turned on the deal.

Some claim the public safety/gun provision was a poison pill to prevent DC from getting the vote, but almost everyone was surprised when the city balked. It was a sweetheart deal. They were getting a seat 'balanced' by a seat that the Republicans were going to get anyway. Walking away meant no real chance at a vote in Congress anytime soon, and a +1 for the GOP in the House.

I think DC and Dem leadership in the House and the Administration got ahead of themselves and figured they (Dems) would take the House in 2012 anyway, so why budge an inch?

It was a bad move. The GOP was willing to play, but the contract was never signed. DC does not have a vote in Congress today, because the city leadership hates guns more than taxation without representation.

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