Gun Grabbing D.C. Mayor Protests NSSF Gun Safety Class

Washington D.C. politicians are so anti gun that they oppose a mere photo of a paper target. With D.C.’s gun grabber laws under fire and pressure rising to allow concealed carry, the city’s liberal political establishment is panicking.

Emily Miller, the senior editor for The Washington Times Opinion pages and one of the few D.C. residents who is a legal handgun own, reported this story last week.

The Natinal Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF) , an organization that I recommend all gun owners to consider joining, put up a billboard in July at 13th and L Streets, N.W. The billboard says, “Hey D.C. — It’s time for your first shot,” with the organization’s website and a photo of a woman holding a red, shot-out bulls-eye. The advertisement is for the NSSF First Shots, which are free safety-and-training seminars.

Miller reports that Mayor Vincent Gray fired off an attack on the sign, calling it “offensive” and “irresponsible.” According to NBC4, the liberal Democrat complained, “To promote the use of guns in the city I think really is just anti-safety.”

“His reaction is sadly predictable — a knee-jerk, anti-gun reaction to anything firearms,” responded NSSF General Counsel Larry Keane. “I don’t see how the billboard or people going to a First Shots program to learn about firearms safety threatens the public safety of Washington or in any way encourages anyone to violate the draconian laws of D.C.” Mr. Keane said, “We have a suggested summer reading list for the mayor: the Bill of Rights and the Heller decision.”

First Shots, which has been taught in 48 states, was brought to Washington and Chicago after the Supreme Court overturned gun bans in those cities in 2008’s Heller and McDonald cases.

At least one city council member supports the efforts of the NSSF.  Phil Mendelson, chairman of the city council, thinks the course is on target. “I see nothing wrong with promoting gun safety,” the at-large Democrat — who wrote the city’s gun laws — told The Washington Times. “If this is a program which helps people use a firearm responsibly then that’s a good thing.”

The three-hour seminars cover local firearms laws, safe handling and shooting fundamentals. The classes from Aug. 24 to 28 will be taught at shooting ranges in Maryland and Virginia. There are no ranges inside the District because it’s illegal to carry a gun outside the home.

Robberies with a gun are up an astounding 19 percent in Washington this year, and assaults with a gun are up 9 percent. Mr. Gray should take aim at criminals with guns instead of law-abiding citizens who want to defend themselves.

Emily Miller is a senior editor for the Opinion pages at The Washington Times. She is one of the few residents of D.C. who legally owns a handgun.  Read about her “adventure” legally obtaining a pistol in the Washington Times Series Emily Gets Her Gun

“Gun control has not worked in D.C. The only people who have guns are criminals. We have the strictest gun laws in the nation and one of the highest murder rates. It’s quicker to pull your Smith and Wesson than to dial 911 if you’re being robbed.” – Lieutenant Lowell Duckett, President of the Black Police Caucus, Special Assistant to the Washington, D.C. Police Chief