WASHINGTON--U. S. Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) joined a bipartisan group of Senators in introducing legislation today to provide the citizens of the Washington, DC with greater Second Amendment Rights protections by repealing several firearm restrictions.

“The Supreme Court spoke loudly when it affirmed Americans’ Right to Bear Arms by striking down several unconstitutional Washington, DC guns laws. But despite this landmark decision affirming that law-abiding citizens have the right to protect themselves, it’s clear that Congress will have to step in to force Washington, DC to comply,” said Hatch.

The Second Amendment Enforcement Act (SAEA) would repeal a number of firearms restricts in the District of Columbia. For example, it would repeal the ban of semiautomatic weapons and eliminate the restrictions on gun storage, which prevent gun owners from storing their firearms so they are available for defensive purposes.

The legislation also allows DC residents to legally purchase guns from federally-licensed dealers in Maryland and Virginia, something that is currently prohibited by federal law. It also would allow law-abiding gun owners to transport firearms for lawful purposes while authorizing the DC City Council to implement regulations governing licensed carry and the prohibition of firearms in sensitive places.

“Washington DC’s gun laws serve little purpose other than to disarm law-abiding citizens,” concluded Hatch. “This bill is a reasonable approach to allowing the people of Washington, DC have the same access to their Second Amendment rights as other Americans.”