Lawmakers are cautiously awaiting a court decision that will decide if private ownership of handguns will be allowed in the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
According to Senate President Victor B. Hocog (Ind-Rota), the court decision \u201cis a 50\/50\u201d proposition, and if the court rules in favor of handgun ownership, then lawmakers need to sit down and discuss possible bills on gun control and regulation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we can do is probably propose stricter regulations, if the court decides in favor of it [handgun ownership],\u201d Hocog said.<\/p>\n
He said he is ready to sit down with colleagues in the Senate and discuss the issue.<\/p>\n
The Commonwealth already has the CNMI Weapons Control Act in place, which only allows the ownership of rifles, not handguns.<\/p>\n
Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan) said he is not in favor of gun ownership, particularly handguns, because there is always the element of \u201cconcealment\u201d which can make handguns dangerous.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a parent and resident, I don\u2019t want anyone roaming around the islands with a handgun on his waist,\u201d Propst said.<\/p>\n
However, if the court decides to go with the Second Amendment and decide in favor of handgun ownership, Propst said lawmakers will have to propose bills to address gun ownership.<\/p>\n
For Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan), the court can always go \u201cback to the basics,\u201d or refer to the original meaning of the Second Amendment regarding gun ownership.<\/p>\n
Igisomar said the amendment was included in the Constitution to allow Americans to \u201cbear arms\u201d to defend themselves against foreign colonizers.<\/p>\n
The court may possibly look into the Covenant between the Commonwealth and the U.S. government and see if the Second Amendment is also applicable to the CNMI, the senator said.<\/p>\n
Until then, Igisomar said, lawmakers have no recourse but to wait for the court decision.<\/p>\n
Former Senate floor leader Pete P. Reyes earlier prefiled a bill that will regulate handguns in the Commonwealth in anticipation of the U.S. District Court possibly shooting down the Commonwealth Weapons Control Act.<\/p>\n
Reyes\u2019 Senate Bill 18-69, prefiled last Oct. 16, is a measure \u201cto provide for the possession and management of firearms in the Commonwealth.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Commonwealth Weapons Control Act has been challenged in the courts and Reyes said the CNMI is now faced with a difficult decision\u2014whether to fight a costly legal battle with little or no prospect of success or move forward in conformance with the Second Amendment.<\/p>\n
The issue of ownership of handguns gained a lot of steam following a court case filed by U.S. Navy Gulf War veteran David J. Radich and his wife, Li-Rong Radich, in 2010.<\/p>\n
The Radich couple filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the constitutionality of the CNMI Weapons Control Act that prohibits all residents from obtaining handguns for self-defense purposes.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit was filed following a home invasion incident that left Li Rong with numerous injuries, which required hospitalization.<\/p>\n
The couple, through their legal counsel, argued that the Second Amendment \u201cguarantee[s] the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The CNMI\u2019s Office of the Attorney General recently released a statement saying that handguns are not constitutionally protected in the CNMI because they have never been used by law-abiding citizens for the purpose of self-defense.<\/p>\n
The U.S District Court for the NMI has set a hearing on the case next month.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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