Congressman Phil Gingrey, MD Georgia's 11th district

Rep. Gingrey’s amendment exempting military personnel from the District of Columbia’s onerous hand gun restrictions passed by a voice vote last night. The amendment is part of the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act, which is expected to pass the House of Representatives today.

Servicemen and women have been prosecuted because of the District’s unconstitutional prohibition, despite their training in the use of firearms, which is a travesty. These 40,000 individuals must request a waiver or be subject to D.C.’s onerous handgun regulations.

Studies have shown that firearms are a crime deterrent. The handgun ban leaves law-abiding citizens unable to protect themselves from violent acts or individuals breaking the law. This amendment recognizes that the D.C. handgun law, especially in regard to trained servicemen and women, punishes individuals well-equipped to protect themselves and others while emboldening perpetrators of violent crime.