In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court announced that the Second Amendment applies to Washington, D.C., concluding that residents of the district have the right to bear arms and to carry their own handguns. Tonight on The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert's take was:

Woo! Finally, the residents of Washington, D.C. have the right to defend themselves… from each other, one can assume… This is great news for some, folks. This means CNN can bring back 'Crossfire' with actual crossfire.

Of course, it's not all fun and games everywhere. It is a little scary considering that we were always told that the courthouse planters were checked and cleaned out every month because people planted their guns and knives before going through the metal detectors and forgot exactly where they put them.

The WaPo suggests that it will only increase individual and gang violence. This is probably true… although, I must say the title, "The Thugs Win the Case," is quite offensive and harsh. Not everyone who owns or wants to own a handgun for protection is a thug. According to the Supreme Court, D.C. is accorded the same rights that every other state of the country has been given according to the Constitution by the Second Amendment. Withholding that right is unlawful, regardless of the author's opinion. And, as much as I hate to admit that it might allow more violence, the Second Amendment is still the Constitution. While I may not agree with it, it's still legal precedent. And if one state is allowed, they all should be deemed the same opportunity. Now that the handgun ban has been ruled unconstitutional, it is the district's responsibility to step up its police protection (which it should have been doing anyway) to reduce violence with handguns.