WASHINGTON (AP) _ District of Columbia officials who want to enforce a strict law that makes it difficult for gun owners to get concealed carry permits ran into another setback Thursday when a federal appeals court said it won’t reconsider a ruling against the law.
In July, a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that a city law requiring that people to show “good reason to fear injury” or another “proper reason” to carry a concealed weapon infringes on residents’ Second Amendment rights. Reasons to get a concealed carry license might include a personal threat, or a job that requires a person to carry or protect cash or valuables.
D.C. officials had asked the court of appeals to re-hear the case as a full court, but the court declined in a brief order Thursday. The city’s requirement had remained in effect while the appeals court considered a re-hearing.
D.C. Councilmember for Ward 6 Charles Allen, who is the chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, said in a statement that he is “very disappointed” and that the decision will make the job of D.C. police “all the more difficulty.”
D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine said in a statement that police can continue to enforce the “good reason” requirement until the appeals court issues what’s called a mandate in about a week. Racine said he’s reviewing options for how to proceed. The city could decide to ask the Supreme Court to hear the case.
The post DC appeals court won’t revisit ruling blocking gun law appeared first on WTOP.
