DC Gun Laws and the Second Amendment

Washington, D.C. strictly regulates the sale, possession, and use of firearms. Most D.C. residents must obtain a permit and undergo a background check to legally buy and register any handguns, long guns, or shotguns owned within the city. It is illegal to openly carry a firearm in Washington, D.C., except for police officers. Gun owners need a concealed carry license to carry a handgun in the city, and out-of-state permits are not recognized.

There are severe penalties for violating D.C. gun laws, including jail time, fines, and loss of gun privileges for felony convictions. For more information about gun control laws in D.C., talk to a local civil rights attorney for legal advice.

DC Gun Laws and Regulations: What To Know

“Washington, D.C. is widely considered to have some of the strictest gun regulations in the U.S.,” says Mark MacDougall of Schertler Onorato Mead Sears & Manning.

Historically, the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 banned D.C. residents from acquiring handguns, automatic firearms, and high-capacity semiautomatic firearms. Owners who had previously registered guns were exempt, but they were required to keep firearms unloaded and at home.

However, gun regulations have since loosened for gun owners in D.C. In June 2008, in District of Columbia v. Heller, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the ban on owning handguns in D.C.

After Heller, D.C. gun owners have the right to buy and own guns with a permit and registration, and residents can carry a concealed firearm with a license. Purchase, transfer, ownership, and licensing are still heavily restricted. Understanding D.C. gun laws can help firearm enthusiasts navigate the system.

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Second Amendment Rulings and Changes to DC Gun Laws

Additional Second Amendment rulings since Heller have shaped gun rights and regulations in D.C. For example, in 2017, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in Wrenn v. District of Columbia that the right to carry common firearms beyond the home for self-defense in densely populated areas falls within the core of the Second Amendment.

The Supreme Court’s 2022 landmark case, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, loosened restrictions on concealed carry even further, protecting the right to carry a loaded handgun in public for self-defense.

Bruen changed the D.C. gun law standard for issuing concealed carry permits from “demonstrating good reason” or “special need” to “shall issue.” After Wrenn and subsequent changes to D.C. law, the Metropolitan Police Department generally must issue concealed-carry pistol licenses (CCPLs) to qualified applicants who meet statutory requirements and are not disqualified.

Gun owners wanting to carry a loaded firearm in public must apply for a CCPL and go through classroom instruction and live-fire range training. There are also enhanced penalty zones for gun crimes, including carrying a firearm without a license, in areas around schools, day care, playgrounds, public housing, and libraries.

Firearm Registration in DC

D.C. residents must apply for a registration certificate after buying a firearm or bringing a gun into D.C. Gun registration permits possession of a firearm in the city, but not open carry or concealed carry of a handgun in public.

When registering a firearm, prospective owners get a background check and are photographed and fingerprinted. A new handgun bought outside the district must be transferred through a federally licensed firearms dealer, and there’s a fee.

A district resident with an existing gun must bring the unloaded firearm to the police department for registration. Don’t bring ammunition. Advance notice and a direct route are potential safeguards in case you’re pulled over and a law enforcement officer sees the unregistered firearm.

Criminal defense attorney Mark Schamel at Venable LLP points to the Metropolitan Police Department’s website, which includes registration procedures for gun owners. The MPD also provides a link to the online Firearms Safety Training Course, and to lists of allowable registered firearms.

Gun Owners Passing Through the Capital

Nonresidents with permits in their home states must apply for D.C. permits to carry a gun in D.C. However, the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) protects gun owners who are just passing through states with restrictive gun laws.

To qualify for FOPA protections, the owner must follow strict storage rules, including:

• The firearms are legal at the origin and destination
• The firearms are unloaded and secured
• The firearms are not readily accessible from the passenger compartment (generally, stored in the trunk)

Getting Legal Advice as a Gun Owner in DC

Gun laws vary greatly by state. Just because you are compliant in your home state does not mean you aren’t breaking the law when bringing a gun to or through Washington, D.C.

Before driving through D.C. with a gun in your vehicle, make sure you understand the local gun laws where you pass through and comply with any state and federal regulations to avoid an arrest, criminal charges, and possibly losing your gun privileges.

Gun laws continue to change nationally and by state and city. [Contact a gun law or civil rights lawyer if you have questions about gun laws in the nation’s capital Contact a gun law or civil right lawyer if you have questions about gun laws in the nation’s capital.