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WASHINGTON - A hearing was held Friday to examine a bill that would give the District resident's voting rights, but also strip the city of its most strict gun laws.

The D.C. Voting Rights Act has already passed through the Senate, but prior to the vote, a gun amendment was added on. Now, the House subcommittee on economic development, public buildings, and emergency management are making sure the District's 600,000 residents will receive their vote without losing their safety.

Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (web | news | bio) chaired a subcommittee hearing to examine the greater Washington area's disaster relief plans. But the voting right act's controversial gun amendment topped the agenda.

"Where in the public safety hierarchy, where does having some say over guns rank," asked Norton.

The provision would deregulate gun use to the minimum federal standards and it would make the District the only U.S. jurisdiction enabling residents to cross state lines to purchase handguns and bring them back.

"Maryland is a state. Maryland is a sovereign and we can't have the United States Congress imposing on us the requirement to register guns from another jurisdiction," said Rep. Donna Edwards. "These two states, they've been drafted into this matter without any consultation from throughout the state."

After their testimonies, all the witnesses agreed the District would be at higher risk if the amendment remains unchanged.

"Not only the people who live and work here, but the millions of visitors who come through here ever year, and the laws that affect us and allow us to do our jobs are very important," said Daniel Nichols, assistant chief, United States Capitol Police Department.

The Department of Homeland Security has ten days to submit more information to the committee. Norton is concerned that if the amendment stays the same, the District will have little to no power in revising gun laws in the future.

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