Federal judge rules DC ban on handguns unconstitutional

[LarryP]

a Judge just delayed the law going into effect for 90 days. Hope open carry idiots don't ruin it for everyone like they did in Texas

[cobb]

Hope open carry idiots don't ruin it for everyone like they did in Texas

I though open carry educated people, the use it or loose it train of thought.

[steve4102]

I'm not familiar with the details of the federal areas in DC. Could someone provide a link to the statute banning firearms on the mall? It was my understanding that the prohibition on the carrying of firearms was only within federal buildings.

Or is it that people are just guessing what the law might be without any actual knowledge of what they're talking about?

Found this.

However, under the U.S. Code, it is required that notice be conspicuously posted at each public entrance to the Federal facility that possession of firearms and dangerous weapons is prohibited. For this reason, a person may not be convicted of this offense if such notice is not posted, unless the defendant had actual notice of this prohibition.

http://www.gunlawsbystate.com/#!/federa ... provision/

[jshuberg]

The carrying of firearms is *not* prohibited on the National Mall by federal law. The National mall is a National Park, and carry is permitted in accordance with state and local law.

Firearms are currently prohibited in public by DC law, but once they issue a permitting system (and for the one day where they were effectively constitutional carry), the open areas of the National Mall will not be prohibited. Federal buildings are prohibited, and will be posted. I suppose it's possible that DC may attempt to restrict carry on the National Mall, but being that they don't have jurisdiction in National Parks, I think it's extremely unlikely. It would take new federal law to completely prohibit carry on the mall.

The definition of a Federal Facility is provided in 18 USC 930:

The term “Federal facility” means a building or part thereof owned or leased by the Federal Government, where Federal employees are regularly present for the purpose of performing their official duties.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/930

Specifically, the facilities at the National Mall where carry is prohibited by federal law are the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Thomas Jefferson Memorial, Survey Lodge, National Mall and Memorial Parks Headquarters and Maintenance Facilities, D-1 Substation, USPP Headquarters, H-1 Stables, USPP office at 17th and I Sts. NW. All other locations on the mall (war memorials, etc) are *not* prohibited by federal law.
http://www.nps.gov/nama/parkmgmt/lawsandpolicies.htm

[LarryP]

I'm talking about the people who walk around at stores with their rifles- you knew that

Hope open carry idiots don't ruin it for everyone like they did in Texas

I though open carry educated people, the use it or loose it train of thought.

[cobb]

I'm talking about the people who walk around at stores with their rifles- you knew that

Hope open carry idiots don't ruin it for everyone like they did in Texas

I though open carry educated people, the use it or loose it train of thought.

Sorry, did not know there was a different type of open carry to educate.