The bill Hatch's aide is talking about is the D.C. Personal Protection Act, which would rescind existing prohibitions covering handguns and semiautomatic weapons in the nation's capitol. Hatch is a co-sponsor of the proposal. Key provisions of the bill are:

• Permitting law-abiding citizens to possess handguns and rifles in their homes and businesses.

• Repealing the registration requirements for firearms and ammunition.

• Eliminating criminal penalties for possession and carrying of firearms in their homes and businesses.

• Correcting an erroneous provision that wrongly treats some firearms as if they were machine guns.

A key argument of the proponents of the act is the high per-capita murder rate in Washington. But here's where we feel the breeze of hot air: The Washington homicide rate actually has declined by 55 percent over the past decade. The "murderous predators," it would seem, are not so prevalent as they used to be.

Our position has been that gun control is an issue that should be dealt with by state legislatures. The hang-up in D.C., however, is that the district has no state legislature, which is why Hatch and other members of Congress get to lay down its laws, which is pretty much the exact opposite of local control.

For the "local" view of Washington, D.C., we ought to look beyond the senator from Utah. Eleanor Holmes Norton, for instance, the nonvoting delegate to Congress from the District, has this to say about the D.C. Personal Protection Act:

"Irresponsible extremists in Congress are trying to make the nation's capital a free-fire zone." Holmes was speaking Monday as part of a coalition of political, religious and civic leaders that have come together to fight Hatch's proposal.

Joining in Holmes' sentiment was Hannah Hawkins, who runs a family support program in one of D.C.'s poorer neighborhoods. "If the United States Capitol can be handgun-free, why can't we?" she asked.

Statements like that demonstrate the difference between the heated words of a local resident and the hot air of a politician.

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Have you heard, seen or read a statement for a politician, media personality or other public figure that you think doesn't quite add up? Let us know, and we'll check it out. Call Ray Cooklis at (513) 768-8525; e-mail rcooklis@enquirer.com