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Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton

Representing the District of Columbia

Places in Washington DC

Norton Says New Signs Saying Guns Prohibited in U.S. Capitol Complex Highlight Hypocritical Efforts by Republicans to Overturn D.C.’s Gun Laws

Jan 5, 2017
Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) today said that she hopes that signs posted this week, for the first time, at the entrance of congressional office buildings indicating that guns are prohibited in the Capitol Complex would end the hypocritical efforts by Republicans to eliminate the District of Columbia’s local gun safety laws while Congress takes extra efforts to ensure guns are barred from the Capitol Complex.  Last Congress, there were eight attempts to overturn or block D.C.’s gun safety laws, while federal law continues to prohibit guns in the Capitol Complex and other federal buildings.

“It is ironic that the Republican-led Congress, which has relentlessly tried, but failed, to overturn D.C.’s gun safety laws, including its prohibition of guns in D.C. government buildings, has not tried to overturn the federal guns laws that protect Members in the Capitol Complex, but instead is doubling down to ensure Members are protected,” Norton said.  “Many of my Republican colleagues appear to be concerned about their own safety, but not the safety of D.C. residents and visitors, who are protected by D.C.’s local gun safety laws as they travel about the city.  Members have legitimate authority to regulate guns on federal property, but they lose legitimacy and moral authority when they try to overturn local D.C. laws.  Republicans owe D.C. residents the same respect for their safety that Members now claim for themselves with signs posted in front of congressional office buildings saying no guns are allowed where Members of Congress engage in their business.”

Under federal law (40 U.S.C. § 5104), guns are prohibited in the entire Capitol Complex, both in the buildings and on the hundreds of acres of grounds.  A separate federal law (18 U.S.C. § 930) prohibits guns in federally owned or leased buildings, provided that notice of the prohibition is conspicuously posted.

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