For decades, southern states and local governments prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote by requiring them to take a written test. While the exam material was sound—based on a knowledge of American government—the process was inherently discriminatory. Lower income, relatively uneducated blacks didn’t have a hope in hell of making the grade. Not to mention the test fee, which placed an additional economic burden on those who could least afford it. Eventually, the courts struck down the system as a deeply cynical “end run.” Flash forward to post-Heller-decision D.C., where the Capitol City has erected new barriers to handgun ownership. And here we go again . . .
