Emily Miller from The Washington Times - Running D.C.'s Gun-Owner Gauntlet

Published on February 2, 2012
Duration: 11:39

Emily Miller of The Washington Times testified before the DC City Council regarding the significant challenges and bureaucratic hurdles faced by legal gun owners in Washington D.C. The discussion highlights the council's resistance to acknowledging demand for legal firearm ownership, citing high fees, complex processes, and a perceived lack of open-mindedness. The testimony also touches upon the police department's resource limitations in managing firearm registration and the ongoing debate about the effectiveness of current regulations in combating crime.

Quick Summary

Emily Miller of The Washington Times detailed the significant challenges legal gun owners face in D.C., including complex registration, high fees, and mandatory re-registration every three years. She argues these hurdles make illegal acquisition easier and that the low number of legal owners reflects systemic barriers, not a lack of demand.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction: Emily Miller's Testimony
  2. 00:12Testifying Before the DC City Council
  3. 00:31Public Hearing and Council Response
  4. 01:05Police Chief Lanier's Acknowledgment
  5. 01:36Post-Heller Decision Laws
  6. 02:04Low Legal Gun Owner Numbers vs. Demand
  7. 02:25Mendelson's Argument on Gun Desire
  8. 03:06Nine-Month Registration Gap
  9. 03:17High Registration Fees
  10. 03:36Understanding the Process Post-Ban
  11. 04:02Complexity of Registration Packet
  12. 04:14Illegal vs. Legal Gun Acquisition
  13. 04:36National Gun Ownership Trends
  14. 05:11Brady Group's Counter-Statistics
  15. 05:47Proving Demand for Guns
  16. 06:39Shooting Range Proposal
  17. 07:09Council's Liberal Bubble
  18. 07:23Constituent Emails and Mendelson's Response
  19. 07:37Registration Process and Gun Crime
  20. 07:48Chris Bowman's Perspective
  21. 08:09Regulations vs. Criminals
  22. 08:33Council's Focus on Legal Owners
  23. 08:53The Re-registration Requirement
  24. 09:39Police Department's Notice Failure
  25. 10:00Resource Limitations in Police Department
  26. 10:13Gun Owners in Violation
  27. 10:35Waste of Resources
  28. 10:52Council's Legislative Approach
  29. 11:10Living in Virginia
  30. 11:16Conclusion and Future Outlook

Frequently Asked Questions

What challenges do legal gun owners face in Washington D.C. according to Emily Miller?

Emily Miller highlights significant bureaucratic hurdles, including complex registration processes, high fees, and mandatory re-registration every three years with fingerprinting. She notes that these obstacles make it more difficult and frustrating to own a gun legally compared to obtaining one illegally.

Why does Emily Miller believe the low number of legal gun owners in D.C. doesn't reflect demand?

Miller argues that the low registration numbers are a direct result of the prohibitive costs and difficulties associated with the legal process. She suggests that if the fees were lower and the process simpler, more people would register their firearms, indicating a suppressed demand due to the current system.

What is the re-registration requirement for gun owners in Washington D.C.?

D.C. law mandates that all gun owners must re-register their firearms every three years. This process involves providing documentation, paying fees, and getting fingerprinted every six years. The police department is responsible for notifying owners, but has reportedly failed to do so due to resource limitations.

What is Chris Bowman's perspective on D.C. gun laws and crime?

Chris Bowman, head of the DC police union, asserts that no crime has ever been committed in D.C. with a legally owned firearm. He criticizes the city council for focusing on regulating legal gun owners while neglecting to address violent criminals who use firearms illegally.

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