http://www.gurapossessky.com/news/parke ... demics.pdf
The introduction and Summary of Argument:
elbINTEREST OF THE AMICAE CURIAE
Amicae Curiae, listed in the Appendix, are an
ad hoc group of over one hundred twenty-six women
state legislators and academics. Amicae have diverse
academic backgrounds and, in many cases, disparate
political ideologies and divergent views on particular
women’s issues. What all Amicae share, however, is
their devotion to the ability of women to legally and
effectively defend themselves in situations that pose
serious and immediate bodily injury.
The case now before the Court directly implicates
women’s capacity for self-defense and is therefore of
particular interest to Amicae. Amicae wish to ensure
that the Court takes into consideration how the
current handgun restrictions in Washington, D.C. not
only effectively abrogate women’s right to defend
themselves, but indeed prevent women from achieving
the same autonomy available to many men. It is
therefore with aspiration of further advancement for
women that Amicae now submit this Brief for the
Court’s consideration.
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
This case provides the Court an opportunity to
advance the ability of women to free themselves from
being subject to another’s ill will and to counter the
commonly-held prejudice that women are “easier
targets� simply because of their gender characteristics.
Violence against women in the United States is
endemic, often deadly, and most frequently committed
by men superior in physical strength to their
female victims.
The District’s current prohibition against handguns
and immediately serviceable firearms in the
home effectively eliminates a woman’s ability to
defend her very life and those of her children against
violent attack. Women are simply less likely to be
able to thwart violence using means currently permitted
under D.C. law. Women are generally less
physically strong, making it less likely that most
physical confrontations will end favorably for women.
Women with access to immediately disabling means,
however, have been proven to benefit from the equalization
of strength differential a handgun provides.
Women’s ability to own such serviceable firearms is
indeed of even greater importance given the holdings
of both federal and state courts that there is no
individual right to police protection.
Washington, D.C.’s current firearms regulations
are facially gender-neutral, and according to Petitioners,
were intended to decrease the incidents of firearms
violence equally among both men and women.
