Federal Judge Rules Northern Mariana Islands Handgun Ban Violates 2A

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A United States federal court ruled on Monday that the gun licensing law in the Mariana Islands Commonwealth violates the Second Amendment.

The U.S. territory bans the possession or importation of handguns and handgun ammunition. It requires that all residents obtain a special license if they wish to possess a firearm. Those applying for the license, called a Weapons Identification Card, or “WIC,” are required to be either a U.S. citizen or U.S. national and to prove they have a good reason to possess a firearm. Self-defense is not among the acceptable reasons.

Ramona Manglona, chief judge of the District Court of the Northern Mariana Islands, struck down all of those provisions as unconstitutional. The Obama-appointee required that Mariana Islands officials immediately stop enforcing its handgun ban, begin issuing WICs to lawful permanent aliens, and accept self-defense as a valid reason for obtaining a WIC. It also ordered the U.S. territory to pay the plaintiffs’ legal fees.