Why the Supreme Court's Decision in the Chicago Handgun Ban case might accomplish little

If Chicago were to impose a tax just on newspapers, the courts would clearly strike it down. My guess is if the city tried to put a tax on abortions, the courts would strike it down also. But Chicago thinks it is OK to impose a big tax on having a gun. In addition, and quite importantly, unlike the Heller case, the Chicago case won't have the same impact on gunlocks.

If the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down Chicago's handgun ban, the city will likely do what Washington, D.C., did when its own ban was overturned two years ago: Put in place all sorts of restrictions to make it tougher to buy guns and easier for police to know who has them.

Prospective gun owners in D.C. now are required to take training courses that include spending one hour on a firing range and several hours in a classroom learning about gun safety. They also must pass a 20 question test based on D.C.'s firearm laws.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley says he's encouraged by what he sees in D.C. and vows not go down without a fight.

"We're not going to roll over," Daley told The Associated Press. . . .