D.C.’S HANDGUN BAN IS BEING CHALLENGED as violative of the Second Amendment. Here’s a link to a press release, and here’s a link to the complaint.

I hope, of course, that the Justice Department — already on record as believing that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to arms — will simply admit that the law in question is indefensible. This will be a real test of Ashcroft’s commitment to a civil liberty that he (along with President Bush) has endorsed, and I imagine the gun-rights community will be paying very close attention.

UPDATE: A reader sends a link to this story on a proposal to arm D.C. cabbies. Dumbest quote:

“There is no question in the universe that can be answered with more guns,” said Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3), head of the D.C. Council’s Committee on the Judiciary. “The District of Columbia is clear on this: We oppose guns.”

Who knows — maybe one day the District of Columbia will decide to oppose crime, instead. But what’s notable about this proposal isn’t that the usual gang is opposing it, but rather that it’s getting some serious support.