Gun Control Takes Center Stage in Ward 8

Last weekend, I went to the Ward 8 Democrats debate on gun control. In attendance, were representatives from the city, the NRA, the Brady Center and the Million Mom March DC. It was a spirited debate, but I came away pessimistic about finding a true solution to the problem, at least as far as DC is concerned.



The problem was eloquently summed up by Ladd Everitt in his email following the event. Ladd is from the Million Mom March and was one of the panelists:

I told people in my remarks that I found it sad that we point fingers at each
other and are duped into criticizing DC's gun laws when traffickers from VA, MD
and elsewhere EVERY DAY are channeling illegal guns to our kids and profiting
from the ensuing bloodshed.

Ladd has a great point. Without secure borders, how can our small city really control its own destiny when it comes to keeping guns off the streets? It is so easy to go into a gun store, buy a gun and then sell it in DC, completely undetected. The answer really lies in the strengthening of federal gun laws and also in better enforcement of the laws in MD and VA. Even the strictest gun laws in DC won't prevent gun violence in our city. Nevertheless, DC residents must have the right to determine the gun laws in the District. Gun violence in Washington is just another example of how District residents are affected by the decisions of others.