Nickles: Gun Amendment Would Raise Terror RiskAssociated Press
Friday, April 3, 2009; 1:00 PM
story linkD.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles says a congressional amendment to weaken the city's gun laws
would make the region more vulnerable to a terrorist attack. Testifying Friday before a House subcommittee, Nickles said D.C. is already vulnerable because it is home to the federal government and numerous iconic buildings such as the White House.
As a result, he said, "the district is the
last place where residents across the country
would want to allow assault weapons."
Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., has attached the amendment to a bill that would give D.C. its first full vote in Congress. Among other things, the amendment would repeal the city's restrictions on semiautomatic weapons and gun registration requirements.
Friday's hearing comes as Democratic leaders strategize on how to move the voting rights legislation forward in the House.