Too High a Price for Voting Rights

Written by: Keshini Ladduwahetty on Mar 4, 2009 9:28 AM EST

Given the uncertainty surrounding the DC House Voting Rights Act (see today's Washington Post article), it is important that grassroots groups like ours take a clear stance.

DC for Democracy members have expressed a commitment to full citizenship rights for the District of Columbia, as opposed to "full congressional representation."  This broader mandate includes the right to spend our local tax dollars as we choose, and the right to make the local laws under which we live (subject to federal law, of course).

As you may have heard, the NRA is trying to pollute the DC Voting Rights Act with language that would gut our local gun safety laws.  The Senate has already caved and passed language that would gut all registration requirements, allow interstate trafficking of guns, and legalize military-style assault weapons.   It would turn DC into an NRA paradise and a nightmare for those of us who live here. 

We have confidence that Congresswoman Norton is doing her best to make sure that the Voting Rights bill is clean of language that meaningfully alters our local gun safety laws.  If, however, despite her best efforts, Congress persists in attaching such language, DC4D's Steering Committee has decided that we must reject the Voting Rights bill.  We will not accept a false choice between congressional representation and local autonomy.

We will not take public action as an organization until our next monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 11 7PM.  At the meeting, we will invite our members to support or challenge our decision.  If a simple majority of our members disagree with our decision, we will rescind it.

In the meantime, let us know what you think!

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