The Countertop Chronicles

In their editorial on D.C.’s proposed new gun law (expected to be passed today), the Washington Post states

Likely to be enacted today by the council on an emergency basis, it would permit only handguns in homes for self-defense. Sawed-off shotguns, machine guns and short-barreled rifles would still be banned. To register handguns, residents would have to complete an application, pass a written firearms test, provide a photo and proof of good vision, and be fingerprinted — all sensible requirements that are generally seen as being able to pass court muster.

I’ll let others point out how ludicrous the machine gun ban – which defines any gun that has the potential to hold 12 bullets in a magazine as a machine gun – is (and how quickly its going to fall).

What I want to discuss are these registration requirements

Application – ok
Written test – well, seems to me some states have already tried to require African Americans to pass poll tests and were rightly struck down.
Photo – ok
proof of good vision – So the D.C. government isn’t only a bunch of racist bigots? Their also anti handicapped? Folks, this forget the smell test – this doesn’t pass either the American’s With Disabilities Act or D.C.’s Human Rights Act

§ 1-2501. Intent of Council.

It is the intent of the Council of the District of Columbia, in enacting this chapter, to secure an end in the District of Columbia to discrimination for any reason other than that of individual merit, including, but not limited to, discrimination by reason of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, disability, source of income, and place of residence or business.

(1973 Ed., § 6-2201; Dec. 13, 1977, D.C. Law 2-38, title I, § 101, 24 DCR 6038; June 28, 1994, D.C. Law 10-129, § 2(a), 41 DCR 2583.)

PROHIBITED ACTS OF DISCRIMINATION

§ 1-2511. Equal opportunities.

Every individual shall have an equal opportunity to participate fully in the economic, cultural and intellectual life of the District and to have an equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of life, including, but not limited to,

in employment, in places of public accommodation, resort or amusement, in educational institutions, in public service, and in housing and commercial space accommodations.

(1973 Ed., § 6-2211; Dec. 13, 1977, D.C. Law 2-38, title II, § 201, 24 DCR 6038.)

§ 1-2532. Discriminatory effects of practices.

Any practice which has the effect or consequence of violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to be an unlawful discriminatory practice.

(1973 Ed., § 6-2278; Dec. 13, 1977, D.C. Law 2-38, title II, § 268, 24 DCR 6038.)

§ 1-2556. Private cause of action.

(a) Any person claiming to be aggrieved by an unlawful discriminatory practice shall have a cause of action in any court of competent jurisdiction for damages and such other remedies as may be appropriate, unless such person has filed a complaint hereunder; provided, that where the Office has dismissed such complaint on the grounds of administrative convenience, or where the complainant has withdrawn a complaint, such person shall maintain all rights to bring suit as if no complaint had been filed. No person who maintains, in a court of competent jurisdiction, any action based upon an act which would be an unlawful discriminatory practice under this chapter may file the same complaint with the Office. A private cause of action pursuant to this act shall be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction within one year of the unlawful discriminatory practice, or the discovery thereof. The timely filing of a complaint with the Office shall toll the running of the one year statute of limitations while the complaint is pending before the Office.

(b) The court may grant such relief as it deems appropriate, including but not limited to, such relief as is provided in § 1-2553(a).

(1973 Ed., § 6-2296; Dec. 13, 1977, D.C. Law 2-38, title III, § 316, 24 DCR 6038; Oct. 23, 1997, D.C. Law 12-39, § 2(d), 44 DCR 4856.)

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