KJCT8.com - Grand Junction, Montrose - Weather, News, Sports | NRA sympathizes with Supreme court case
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BY : CRYSTAL JENKINS
Locals are keeping a close eye on a Supreme Court case involving gun control in Washington.
The court heard arguments on Tuesday on the 2nd amendment, the first time it's done so since 1939.
Shelley Parker, a D.C. resident was the victim of an attempted break-in.
She says she wants to be able to carry a firearm, but the city's gun laws bans handguns.
Parker says this puts her in danger, especially with Washington D.C. being one of the most violent cities.
Parker is now suing the city because she feels this is unfair.
The supreme court heard her case today and now; they're trying to decide whether the second amendment really protects a person's right to bear arms.
Local NRA officials say Parker has every right to be taking extreme measures.
Linn Armstrong, Grand Junction resident and NRA training counselor says"If you do have a firearm there it's illegal and you can't have rifles or shotguns. If you do they have to be taken apart, trigger lock put on them, so it makes them as far as a self defense tool inoperative."
Armstrong also says wherever gun laws are extremely restrictive, crime rates go up. Some officials in D.C. disagree.
D.C. mayor Adrian Fenty says,"Handguns represent a disproportionate number of crimes in the District of Columbia."
Some in the D.C. area have been camping out for days in front of the Supreme court trying to get a seat inside.
A decision is expected by June in this case.
If the court supports D.C's gun ban, the NRA says it could encourage other cities to pass tougher gun laws.
