Inch by inch, as challenges mount to the District of Columbia’s refusal to fully obey the ruling of the Supreme Court, they’re giving in. From the Washington Times:

D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson says he will propose regulations Tuesday that would legalize semi-automatic handguns in the District because the stopgap legislation the council passed in response to a Supreme Court ruling “would not stand up to judicial scrutiny.”

“The Supreme Court has spoken, and we have to act accordingly,” he said. “We are still going to have a strong gun control law.”

Mr. Mendelson, at-large Democrat, said the bill will refine the city’s definition of machine guns by using wording from other jurisdictions and the federal assault-weapons ban, which has since expired. The bill also will cap at 10 the number of rounds a semi-automatic gun magazine can hold.

Well, at least he recognizes the difference between “automatic” and “semi-automatic.” It’s unfortunate that DC will go along with a limit on magazine capacity because thugs rarely observe such limitations themselves but, given that many states’ laws have the same restriction, it will probably pass legal scrutiny.

Of course, Mendelson’s proposals could be rejected by the rest of the council. Update: It passed.

Also:

The bill also will change safe-storage provisions to advisory regulations - meaning gun owners would no longer be required to keep their guns unloaded, locked up or disassembled - but will create criminal penalties for gun owners who give children access to guns.

Good. A gun in a safe or with locks on it is pretty useless in an emergency. Having said that, I do agree that in households where children are present, extra caution must always be taken to be sure that firearms are not “laying around” and that children be taught about firearm safety from the get-go.

Lastly, I have to laugh at this comment about why the original legalization of handguns after the SCOTUS decision applied only to revolvers:

. . .Lawmakers and public safety officials said they want in part to limit gun owners’ potential to overpower police.

As has been shown time and again, those citizens who go through the trouble of applying for firearm permits, taking classroom instruction, jumping all the hurdles, rarely present a problem to cops or anyone else. It’s the ones who don’t bother. . . . You know, like crooks.

See my update here.