Supreme Court To Decide D.C. Gun Ban Case

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule Thursday on whether the District will be able to keep its controversial gun ban.

Mayor Adrian Fenty and other top city leaders plan a noon news conference to react to the court's decision. Today is the last day the high court will issue decisions from arguments it heard this term.

The gun control case is being watched closely by lawyers on both sides, because it is likely to have a national effect.

The court may rule whether the wording of the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to own a gun or if the amendment is meant to give states the rights to organize armed militias.

Before a packed courtroom in March, justices heard arguments in the case that could overturn the city's 1977 handgun ban, which is the strictest in the nation. The city argues that the law is reasonable and that it curbs violent crime that would get worse with legal handguns in homes. Opponents say the law violates the Second Amendment right to defend the home and has had no impact on city violence.

If the ban is overturned, it will probably be a few weeks before it takes effect in the city, said Clark Neily, an attorney for plaintiffs seeking to overturn the handgun ban.

If the city loses, the District could ask for time to adjust D.C.'s law from an outright ban to regulations that meet the court ruling, which could take weeks or months, said District officials who declined to comment on camera.

Related: Watch The Report | Should D.C.'s Handgun Ban Be Upheld Or Overturned?

City officials said they're prepared for any ruling but upholding the ban would be a victory for citizen safety.

Some attorneys said a broad ruling upholding the law could tempt other jurisdictions to toughen their gun laws -- but not without a major political fight.

The Supreme Court also could return the case to lower courts for more arguments.