D.C. home handgun ban thrown out

WASHINGTON, March 10 (UPI) -- A federal court has thrown out a Washington, D.C., ban on keeping handguns in private homes as unconstitutional.

Gun control opponents were thrilled with the 2-1 decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, but Mayor Adrian M. Fenty vowed to appeal, the Washington Post reported.

"This is a tremendous victory for the civil rights of all Americans," Alan Gura, a lawyer for six Washington residents who said they wanted to keep handguns in their homes for protection, told the Post.

Fenty said he is "personally deeply disappointed and frankly outraged by this decision."

"It flies in the face of laws that have helped decrease gun violence in the District of Columbia."

The Post reported that the district's lawyers said the current law would remain in effect during an appeal, which could take a year.

Senior Judge Laurence H. Silberman wrote the majority opinion Friday, saying, "We conclude that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms."