...and even the business manager thinks it'd be a money-maker. From the Washington Post today:
WORD ON THE STREET
Slow Draw for Guns
Sunday, July 20, 2008; Page M02
D.C. firearm owners have a 180-day pass to register illegal weapons. But on the first day of amnesty, Thursday, swarms of cops and reporters buzzed around the steps at police headquarters and wondered:
Who will bring in the first gun?
It's a slow start. There are helpful red-white-and-blue signs and helpful officers assigned to the detail approach each passerby. No guns.
Two contenders! Up on the steps, Paul and Gerald Glover, father and son, the elder in a safari hat. Guns?
Not yet, the Glovers say. They're here to pick up gun applications, but don't own any.
More waiting.
Another contender! A man carrying a telltale manila envelope, the type that contains registration info.
Gun?
Urinalysis results.
At 1:15, a revelation. The first gun has arrived, toted by someone who sneaked in the side. Excitement!
The owner is: a spunky soccer-mom type. Bleach-blond hair, white polo shirt, jean shorts.
Of course. Women like this are the keepers of calendars. Women like this are not going to put off registering illegal firearms for six months.
She sets her encased .357 on the registration desk and fills out paperwork. No press, please.
A smiling man in a smart suit approaches her and extends his hand. "How are you? I'm Lieutenant Shelton." Jon Shelton heads up firearms registration. "I just wanted to say hello, and congratulations."
BUT, so far, there are no gun stores or gun shops in D.C. There was a newscast a couple of days ago that said how a D.C. resident can go about buying a handgun -- go into a Maryland gunstore, buy the gun -- go to D.C. and apply for a permit application, wait for approval , wait for the permit to be issued, then have the Maryland gundealer transfer it to a D.C. FFL whenever one gets approved, transfer it to the D.C. FFL, wait for approval, go to the Maryland gunstore and pick up your firearm, take it to the D.C. police for "firearms testing and bullet forensics" and wait for approval, then submit your fingerprints and firearms training and background check applications and wait for approval, and then come pick up your handgun (as long as it's not a 12 round semi-automatic -- ie., "machingun"! under D.C.'s interpretation of that ) -- take it home and dismantle it and/or lock it up.
SIMPLE, AND NOW YOU'RE SAFE AT HOME! Oh, but there's no provisions in the law for carrying it to the police station,home, or to the range!!! Small details, right?
NOW, I just wonder, how difficult will it be to open my gunshop in D.C.?
Carry On!
Gary
><>
WORD ON THE STREET
Slow Draw for Guns
Sunday, July 20, 2008; Page M02
D.C. firearm owners have a 180-day pass to register illegal weapons. But on the first day of amnesty, Thursday, swarms of cops and reporters buzzed around the steps at police headquarters and wondered:
Who will bring in the first gun?
It's a slow start. There are helpful red-white-and-blue signs and helpful officers assigned to the detail approach each passerby. No guns.
Two contenders! Up on the steps, Paul and Gerald Glover, father and son, the elder in a safari hat. Guns?
Not yet, the Glovers say. They're here to pick up gun applications, but don't own any.
More waiting.
Another contender! A man carrying a telltale manila envelope, the type that contains registration info.
Gun?
Urinalysis results.
At 1:15, a revelation. The first gun has arrived, toted by someone who sneaked in the side. Excitement!
The owner is: a spunky soccer-mom type. Bleach-blond hair, white polo shirt, jean shorts.
Of course. Women like this are the keepers of calendars. Women like this are not going to put off registering illegal firearms for six months.
She sets her encased .357 on the registration desk and fills out paperwork. No press, please.
A smiling man in a smart suit approaches her and extends his hand. "How are you? I'm Lieutenant Shelton." Jon Shelton heads up firearms registration. "I just wanted to say hello, and congratulations."
BUT, so far, there are no gun stores or gun shops in D.C. There was a newscast a couple of days ago that said how a D.C. resident can go about buying a handgun -- go into a Maryland gunstore, buy the gun -- go to D.C. and apply for a permit application, wait for approval , wait for the permit to be issued, then have the Maryland gundealer transfer it to a D.C. FFL whenever one gets approved, transfer it to the D.C. FFL, wait for approval, go to the Maryland gunstore and pick up your firearm, take it to the D.C. police for "firearms testing and bullet forensics" and wait for approval, then submit your fingerprints and firearms training and background check applications and wait for approval, and then come pick up your handgun (as long as it's not a 12 round semi-automatic -- ie., "machingun"! under D.C.'s interpretation of that ) -- take it home and dismantle it and/or lock it up.
SIMPLE, AND NOW YOU'RE SAFE AT HOME! Oh, but there's no provisions in the law for carrying it to the police station,home, or to the range!!! Small details, right?
NOW, I just wonder, how difficult will it be to open my gunshop in D.C.?
Carry On!
Gary
><>
