A district attorney of Long Island, N.Y., is banning prosecutors from owning handguns - a decision that has landed her in hot water. Madeline Singas, the acting district attorney of the Nassau County District Attorney's Office, issued the ordinance which states that prosecutors are not allowed to possess a handgun, even when at home.
"Assistant district attorneys are not permitted to apply for a handgun permit nor own or possess a handgun while employed by the Nassau County District Attorney. Any exception to this policy must be in writing and approved by the District Attorney," an application for employment stated.
However, some experts have said the ordinance is unconstitutional. UCLA law professor Eugene Volokh said that it disrupts the Second Amendment right of a person in addition to a crucial statute in the state of New York.
"Prosecutors often have special reasons they may want to be able to defend themselves," Volokh said, according to Fox News. "I'm not arguing they should have extra rights beyond what everyone else has; I'm arguing they should have the same rights."
In light of the backlash surrounding the new ordinance, the office of the district attorney said in a statement: "The practice of asking prosecutors to not possess handguns is to ensure the safety and comfort of staff, victims and witnesses, and is consistent with other district attorney's offices in the New York City metropolitan area," according to WND.
