WASHINGTON - March 26 - U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo M. Urbina today upheld as constitutional several strong gun laws enacted by the District of Columbia following the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2008 decision striking down D.C.’s handgun ban in District of Columbia v. Heller.  The Court rejected arguments by Dick Heller (the same plaintiff who challenged D.C.’s prior laws) that the Second Amendment did not allow the District’s new firearms registration law, and bans on assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines.  The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence assisted the District in defending its laws.

“Today’s court decision is the latest ruling to make it clear that the Second Amendment allows strong common sense gun laws,” said Brady Center President Paul Helmke.  “Once again, the courts have rejected the gun lobby’s attempt to transform the core right to guns in the home for self-defense into a mandate for their ‘any gun, anywhere’ agenda. Politicians and legislatures at all levels should stop using the Second Amendment as an excuse for inaction against gun violence.  They should follow the District’s example and pass the strong, common sense gun laws Americans need and demand to protect their communities.”