Washington DC

Summary of State Firearms Law

Last updated September 20, 2010.

Overview

The District of Columbia (“District”) has enacted, arguably, the strongest gun violence prevention legislation in the nation. Among other things, District law:

• Requires that any person or organization obtain a valid registration certificate in order to lawfully possess or control a firearm.  The registration process serves also as a licensing process and is rigorous and detailed, including a background check on the prospective transferee and firearms safety training and testing requirements;

• Deems certain firearms unregisterable, meaning they cannot be owned or possessed in the District, including assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles, sawed-off shotguns, machine guns, short-barreled rifles, certain unsafe firearms that do not meet safety standards, and handguns not registered to the current owner prior to September 24, 1976, with certain limited exceptions, including the registration of handguns for self-defense within the registrant’s home;

• Prohibits the possession, sale or other transfer of any large capacity ammunition feeding device;

• Prohibits the carrying of concealed handguns in public;

• Prohibits the open carrying of handguns in public, as well as the carrying of a rifle or shotgun in public;

• Imposes a 10-day waiting period between the purchase and actual transfer of a firearm to a purchaser;

• Licenses and strictly regulates firearms dealers;

• Requires detailed design safety standards for handguns that can be sold or owned in the District;

• Limits the number of handguns a person may register to one per 30-day period;

• Regulates private firearm transfers by requiring that all private sellers in the District have a registration certificate to transfer a firearm, and limits their transfer to only licensed dealers;

• Requires gun owners to report to law enforcement the loss, theft, or destruction of a registered firearm;

• Requires that any registered handgun be submitted to law enforcement for a ballistics identification procedure.

Statistics

Gun Deaths in the District of Columbia.

In 2007, 144 people died from firearm-related injuries in the District.¹

            Crime Guns in the District of Columbia

In 2008, the District ranked last nationwide in the number of crime guns supplied to other states per capita.²

In 2009, 1,714 firearms were recovered in the District and traced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Of the 996 traces where the source state could be identified, only 18 of these guns were originally sold by dealers in the District.³

Number of Federally Licensed Firearms Dealers in the District of Columbia

There are a total of seven federally licensed firearms dealers and pawnbrokers in the District.⁴

State "Right to Bear Arms"

The District of Columbia is not a state and has no constitution. The District has not adopted any statutes containing a "right to "bear arms."

Local Authority to Regulate Firearms

The District of Columbia has broad authority to regulate firearms.  See State Preemption/Local Authority to Regulate Firearms summary for further information.

State Firearms Policies

Please note that many firearm-related laws have exceptions for military and law enforcement personnel.

The District of Columbia defines a "pistol" as "any firearm originally designed to be fired by use of a single hand" and therefore refers to all handguns.⁵ To avoid confusion, the term "handgun" is used throughout this summary.

Persons Prohibited from Firearm Possession

Prohibited Purchasers Generally

Federal law prohibits certain persons from purchasing or possessing firearms, such as felons, certain domestic abusers, and certain people with a history of mental illness.

Generally, no person or organization may possess or control any firearm in the District of Columbia unless the person or organization holds a valid registration certificate.⁶  Since 1976, the District generally has deemed handguns that were not registered to the current owner prior to September 24, 1976 as unregisterable firearms.⁷  Handguns may now be registered for the limited purpose of self-defense within the registrant’s home.⁸

To obtain a registration certificate, an applicant must pass a background check conducted by the Chief of Police (Chief).  This background check is in addition to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check required by the Brady Act when purchasing a gun from a federally licensed dealer.  The Chief must confirm that the applicant:

• Is 21 years of age or older (with narrow exceptions, including for applicants between the ages of 18 and 21 who are otherwise qualified, if the application is accompanied by a notarized statement from the applicant's parent or guardian indicating that the applicant has the parent or guardian’s permission to own and use the firearm to be registered and the parent or guardian assumes civil liability for all damages resulting from the actions of the applicant);

• Has not been convicted of a crime of violence, weapons offense, or of a violation of a firearms control law;

• Is not under indictment for a crime of violence or a weapons offense;

• Has not been convicted within five years prior to the application of any:

• Violation in any jurisdiction of any law restricting the use, possession, or sale of any narcotic or dangerous drug; or

• A violation of D.C. Code Ann. § 22-407 (threats to do bodily harm) or D.C. Code Ann. § 22-404 (assaults and threats) or any similar law of any other jurisdiction that may indicate a likelihood to us a firearm unlawfully;

• Has not been convicted of two or more violations of D.C. Code Ann. § 50-2201.05(b) (driving under the influence of liquor or drugs), or in any other jurisdiction any law restricting driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs;

• Within the five years immediately preceding the application:

• Has not been acquitted of any criminal charge by reason of insanity or has not been adjudicated a chronic alcoholic by any court;

• Has not been voluntarily or involuntarily committed to any mental hospital or institution; or

• Has not had a history of violent behavior;

• Does not appear to suffer from a physical defect which tends to indicate that the applicant would not be able to possess and use a firearm safely and responsibly;

• Has not been adjudicated negligent in a firearm mishap causing death or serious injury to another human being;

• Is not otherwise ineligible to possess a handgun under D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4503 (various prohibitions under the label “unlawful possession of firearm,” including any person addicted to a controlled substance, a fugitive from justice, or any person subject to a court order restraining him or her from assaulting, harassing, stalking, or threatening a petitioner or any other person named in the order and that requires the person restrained to relinquish possession of any firearms);

• Demonstrates satisfactory knowledge of the laws of the District pertaining to firearms and the safe and responsible use, handling, and storage of firearms in accordance with tests and standards prescribed by the Chief;

• Has completed a firearms training or safety course or class, conducted by a state-certified firearms instructor or a certified military firearms instructor, that provides at a minimum at least one hour of firing training at a firing range and at least for hours of classroom instruction;

• Has vision better than or equal to that required to obtain a valid driver's license under the laws of the District;

• Has not been convicted of any intrafamily offense;

• Has not been the respondent in an intrafamily proceeding in which a civil protection order was issued against the applicant, or in a proceeding in which a foreign protection order was issued against the applicant (an applicant who has been the subject of such an order shall be eligible for registration if the applicant has submitted to the Chief a certified court record establishing that the order has expired or has been rescinded for a period of five years or more); and

• Has not been prohibited from possessing or registering a firearm pursuant to certain duties imposed upon registrants related to reporting the loss, theft, or destruction of the registration certificate or of a registered firearm.⁹

In addition, a registration applicant may be disqualified for adjudication of negligence if he or she has had an entry of judgment or a consent order or decree of negligence against him or her in any civil suit concerning the discharge of a firearm resulting in death or serious injury to a human being without regard to the filing of criminal charges, or the finding by a coroner of negligent homicide.¹⁰

For information on the background check process used to enforce these provisions, see the District of Columbia Background Checks section.

Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess

Generally, no person under age 21 may obtain a registration certificate, which prevents such individuals from lawfully possessing a firearm (see the District of Columbia Background Checks section and the section entitled District of Columbia Prohibited Purchasers Generally for further information).¹¹ The Chief of Police may, however, issue a registration certificate to an applicant between the ages of 18 and 21 years old, who is otherwise qualified, if the application is accompanied by a notarized statement of the applicant's parent or guardian verifying that:

• The applicant has the permission of his or her parent or guardian to own and use the firearm to be registered; and

• The parent or guardian assumes civil liability for all damages resulting from the actions of the applicant in the use of the firearm to be registered.¹²

District regulations prohibit the possession of any firearm by a person under age 18.¹³

The District prohibits the sale of any handgun to a purchaser under age 21.¹⁴  Moreover, any person who knowingly or intentionally transfers a firearm or ammunition to a person under age 18 is criminally liable for a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years.¹⁵

See Regulating Guns in America:  Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Firearms for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Domestic Violence & Firearms

Federal law prohibits the purchase and possession of firearms and ammunition by certain domestic abusers.  Similarly, District law also prohibits the purchase and possession of guns by persons convicted of domestic violence offenses and by those persons subject to civil protection orders.

Firearm Prohibitions for Domestic Violence Misdemeanants

To obtain a registration certificate, which is required to purchase or possess a firearm in the District, an applicant must pass a background check.  The applicant will not pass the background check if he or she:

• Has been convicted within the previous five years of any intrafamily offense;¹⁶ or

• Is otherwise ineligible to possess a handgun under D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4503 (including for convictions of an intrafamily offense in the District or a substantially similar offense in another jurisdiction).¹⁷

Firearm Prohibitions for Persons Subject to Domestic Violence Restraining/Protective Orders

The District also will not issue a registration certificate to any person if he or she:

• Is or has been the respondent in an intrafamily proceeding in which a civil protection order was issued against her or him, or in a proceeding in which a foreign protection order was issued against her or him (an applicant who has been the subject of such an order shall be eligible for registration if the applicant has submitted to the Chief of Police a certified court record establishing that the order has expired or has been rescinded for a period of five years or more);¹⁸ or

• Is ineligible to possess a handgun under D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4503 (including any person subject to a court order restraining him or her from assaulting, harassing, stalking, or threatening a petitioner or any other person named in the order and that requires the person restrained to relinquish possession of any firearms).¹⁹

Removal or Surrender of Firearms by Domestic Abusers

The District has no laws providing for the removal of firearms or ammunition specifically from the scene of a domestic violence incident or from the subject of a civil protection order.

See Regulating Guns in America:  Domestic Violence and Firearms for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Disarming Prohibited Persons

The District has no law specifically requiring the removal of firearms from persons who have become prohibited from possessing them.

A police officer, in the course of a lawful arrest or lawful search, who discovers a dangerous article he or she reasonably believes is a nuisance, must take possession of the article and surrender it to the property clerk of the Metropolitan Police Department.²⁰  A dangerous article includes a handgun, machine gun and sawed-off shotgun.²¹  For further information, see the section entitled “Confiscation of Firearms Deemed a Nuisance” under the District of Columbia’s Other Significant Statutes.

Sales & Transfers

Background Checks

Federal law requires federally licensed firearms dealers (but not private sellers) to initiate a background check on the purchaser prior to sale of a firearm. Federal law provides states with the option of serving as a state “point of contact” and conducting their own background checks using state, as well as federal, records and databases, or having the checks performed by the FBI using only the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (“NICS”) database. (Note that state files are not always included in this federal database.)

The District of Columbia is not a point of contact jurisdiction for the NICS.  The District has no law requiring firearms dealers to initiate background checks prior to transferring a firearm.  As a result, firearms dealers must initiate the background check required by federal law by contacting the FBI directly.²²

The Chief of Police initiates backgrounds checks for the issuance of registration certificates, which are required to own and take possession of a firearm in the District.²³

In the District, any private (i.e., unlicensed) firearm seller must have a registration certificate in order to lawfully transfer a firearm;²⁴ private sellers may transfer lawful firearms to only licensed dealers.²⁵ See the District of Columbia Private Sales section for further information.

See Regulating Guns in America:  Background Checks for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Mental Health Reporting

Federal law prohibits possession of a firearm or ammunition by any person who has been “adjudicated as a mental defective” or involuntarily “committed to any mental institution.”²⁶ No federal law, however, requires states to report the identities of these individuals to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (“NICS”) database, which the FBI uses to perform background checks prior to firearm transfers.

The District of Columbia has no law requiring the reporting of mental health information to NICS.  For general information on the background check process and categories of prohibited purchasers or possessors, see the District of Columbia Background Checks section and the section entitled District of Columbia Prohibited Purchasers Generally.

See Regulating Guns in America:  Mental Health Reporting for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Multiple Purchases / Sales of Firearms

Persons registering their handguns in the District are limited to one registration per handgun during any 30-day period.²⁷  The Chief of Police may permit a person who is first becoming a District resident to register more than one handgun if the new resident’s handguns were lawfully owned in another jurisdiction for a period of six months prior to the date of the application.²⁸

See Regulating Guns in America:  Restrictions on Multiple Purchases or Sales of Firearms for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Retention of Sales / Background Check Records

For a description of the inventory records and other information required to be kept by licensed firearms dealers, see the “Duties of Licensed Dealers” subsection of the District of Columbia Dealer Regulations section.

See Regulating Guns in America:  Retention of Firearm Sales and Background Check Records for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Waiting Periods

No seller shall deliver a firearm to a purchaser until 10 days have elapsed from the time of submission of the purchase application.²⁹  See the District of Columbia Background Checks and Registration sections for related information.

See Regulating Guns in America:  Waiting Periods for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Gun Dealers & Other Sellers

Dealer Regulations

Federal law requires firearms dealers to obtain a license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF), although resource limitations prevent the ATF from properly overseeing all its licensees.

In the District of Columbia, any person or organization that wants to "engage in the business of selling, purchasing, or repairing" firearms or ammunition must obtain a District dealer’s license.³⁰  Any person eligible to register a firearm in the District (and who, if a registrant, has not previously failed to perform any of the duties imposed by law), and any person who is otherwise eligible to engage in the sale of firearms, may obtain a dealer's license.³¹ See the District of Columbia Registration section for related information.

                   Dealer Licensing

Dealer applicants must go through the same background check process established for firearm purchases (see the District of Columbia Background Checks section), indicate the address of the proposed business, note whether they held a license to deal in deadly weapons in the District prior to September 24, 1976 (the effective date of the D.C. Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975), and must provide "[s]uch other information as the Chief [of Police] may require, including fingerprints and photographs."³²  The Chief shall approve or deny an application within 60 days, unless good cause is shown, including non-receipt of information from sources outside the District government.³³  The Chief may hold in abeyance an application where there is any firearm revocation proceeding pending against the applicant.³⁴

Licensed dealers may transfer any registerable firearm to any person or organization possessing a registration certificate for such firearm.³⁵  However, a special license is required for a retail dealer to sell, or expose for sale, or have in his or her possession with intent to sell, any handgun, machine gun, or sawed-off shotgun.³⁶  Wholesale dealers do not need a special license to sell such weapons, but are only allowed to sell them to a licensed dealer.³⁷

A dealer’s license is valid for one year from the date of issuance.³⁸

Duties of Licensed Dealers

Licensed dealers shall, among other things, keep at the dealer’s premises a current record in book form of:

• The name, address, home phone, and date of birth of each employee handling firearms or ammunition;

• Detailed information about each firearm received into inventory or for repair, or subsequently sold or transferred, including the:

• Serial number, caliber, make, model, manufacturer's number, dealer's identification number, and registration certificate number of the firearm;

• Name, address, and dealer license number or registration certificate number of the person or organization from whom the firearm was purchased or otherwise received;

• Consideration for transfer;

• Date and time of receipt or delivery and, in the case of repair, return to the person holding the registration certificate; and

• Nature of the repairs made; and

• Detailed information about ammunition received into inventory or subsequently sold or transferred, including the:

• Brand and number of rounds of each caliber or gauge;

• Name, address, and dealer’s license or registration number of the person or organization from whom received, sold or transferred;

• The registration certificate number of the firearm for which the ammunition was sold or transferred, for transferees who are not licensed dealers;

• Consideration given for the ammunition; and

• The date and time of the receipt, sale or transfer of the ammunition.³⁹

These records must be exhibited during normal business hours to any member of the Metropolitan Police Department.⁴⁰ In addition, each licensed dealer must, when required by the Chief in writing, submit on a form and for the periods of time specified any of the aforementioned record information, as well as any other information reasonably obtainable from those records.⁴¹ Failure to comply with this requirement will result in revocation of the dealer’s license.⁴²  A license shall also be revoked if the information furnished to the Chief on the application for a dealer’s license proves to be intentionally false.⁴³

Firearms dealers selling handguns and machine guns must keep specific records of transactions for these firearms.⁴⁴  Purchase records must contain the date of purchase, the caliber, make, model, and manufacturer's number of the weapon, and the date of sale (once the firearm is sold).⁴⁵  In addition, sales records must also be signed by both the purchaser and the person effecting the sale, each in the presence of the other, and must contain the date of sale, the name, address, occupation, color, and place of birth of the purchaser, and include a statement by the purchaser that he or she is not prohibited under District law from possessing a firearm.⁴⁶  One copy of the sales record shall, within seven days, be forwarded by mail to the Chief and a copy retained by the seller for six years.⁴⁷

Secondhand and junk dealers must also secure the name and address of any person purchasing or otherwise acquiring any firearm.⁴⁸

Licensed dealers are also obligated to notify the Chief in writing of: 1) the loss, theft, or destruction of the dealer's license immediately upon discovery of such loss, theft, or destruction; 2) the loss, theft, or destruction of any firearms or ammunition in the dealer's inventory; or 3) a change in any of the information appearing on the dealer's license or required to obtain a dealer’s license immediately upon the occurrence of any such change.⁴⁹  

A dealer also must:

• Display the dealer's license in a conspicuous place on the premises;⁵⁰

• Not display any firearm or ammunition in windows visible from a street or sidewalk;⁵¹

• Not knowingly employ any person in his or her establishment if such person would not be eligible to register a firearm;⁵² and

• Keep all firearms and ammunition in a securely locked place "affixed" to the premises except when being shown to a customer or being repaired.⁵³

Transfer Regulations

No licensed dealer shall transfer ammunition unless:

• The transfer is made in person;

• The purchaser exhibits, at the time of transfer, a valid registration certificate or, in the case of a nonresident, proof that the weapon is lawfully possessed in the jurisdiction where such person resides;

• The ammunition to be transferred is of the same caliber or gauge as the firearm described in the registration certificate, or other proof in the case of nonresident; and

• The purchaser signs a receipt for the ammunition which, in addition to the other records required by District law, shall be maintained by the licensed dealer for a period of one year from the date of transfer.⁵⁴

This does not apply to, inter alia, sales to other licensed dealers and certain law enforcement officers and government agents.⁵⁵

                    Strict Liability

Any dealer of a firearm who can be shown by a preponderance of the evidence to have knowingly and willfully engaged in the illegal sale of a firearm shall be held strictly liable in tort for all direct and consequential damages that arise from bodily injury or death if the bodily injury or death proximately results from the discharge of the firearm in the District, regardless of whether or not the person operating the firearm is the original, illegal purchaser.⁵⁶ This also applies to firearm manufacturers and importers.⁵⁷

Furthermore, any individual who can be shown by a preponderance of the evidence to have knowingly and willfully engaged in the illegal sale, loan, lease, or rental of a firearm for money or anything of value shall be held strictly liable in tort for all direct and consequential damages that arise from bodily injury or death if the bodily injury or death proximately results from the discharge of the firearm in the District, regardless of whether or not the person operating the firearm is the original, illegal purchaser.⁵⁸

No strict liability action may be brought:

• When the basis of the strict liability is a firearm originally distributed to a law enforcement agency or a law enforcement officer;

• By a person who can be shown by a preponderance of the evidence to have committed a self-inflicted injury or who was injured by a firearm while committing a crime, attempting to commit a crime, engaged in criminal activity, or engaged in a delinquent act;

• By a person who can be shown by a preponderance of the evidence to be engaged in the sale or distribution of illegal narcotics; or

• By a person who either assumed the risk of the injury that occurred or negligently contributed to the injury that occurred.⁵⁹

Dealers of assault weapons or machine guns will be held strictly liable in tort for all direct and consequential damages arising from bodily injury or death if the bodily injury or death proximately results from the discharge of the assault weapon or machine gun in the District.⁶⁰ This also applies to manufacturers and importers of assault weapons and machine guns.⁶¹

Location Restrictions

The District of Columbia prohibits retail firearm sales in:

• Commercial-Residential mixed use districts;⁶²

• Waterfront Districts;⁶³ and

• “C-1” Commercial Districts.⁶⁴

Firearm retail establishments are permitted in a “C-2” Commercial District, provided that no portion of the establishment shall be located within 300 feet of: 1) a residence or Special Purpose District; or 2) a church or other place of worship, public or private school, public library, or playground.⁶⁵

For laws applicable to both licensed and private firearm sellers, please see the District of Columbia Private Sales section.

For laws requiring dealers to conduct a background check on prospective firearm purchasers, see the District of Columbia Background Checks section.

See Regulating Guns in America:  Dealer Regulations for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Private Sales

Private sellers in the District of Columbia must have a registration certificate in order to lawfully transfer a firearm.⁶⁶  Even where private sellers are so eligible, they may transfer registerable firearms⁶⁷ to only licensed dealers.⁶⁸

In addition, no person may sell a handgun to a person: 1) not of sound mind; 2) prohibited from possessing a firearm by any of the specific prohibited categories under D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4503 (see the District of Columbia Prohibited Possessors Generally section); or 3) under age 21, unless the seller is the parent or guardian of the purchaser.⁶⁹ Any person who knowingly or intentionally transfers a firearm or ammunition to someone under age 18 shall be fined up to $10,000, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both.⁷⁰

The District also prohibits the use of firearms or ammunition as security for a mortgage, deposit or pledge, and prohibits loaning, borrowing, giving, or renting a firearm or ammunition to or from another person.⁷¹

See Regulating Guns in America:  Private Sales for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Gun Shows

The District of Columbia does not specifically regulate gun shows. Generally, firearms may not be transferred in the District until the purchaser has been issued a firearm registration certificate, which requires a background check by the Chief of Police.⁷²

See the District of Columbia Background Checks, Prohibited Purchasers Generally and Registration of Firearms sections for further information.

See Regulating Guns in America:  Gun Shows for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Immunity Statutes

The District of Columbia has no firearm-related immunity laws.

For detailed information about government and private party lawsuits against the gun industry, the status of litigation involving gun industry immunity statutes in various states, or pending gun industry immunity legislation, visit the Brady Center's Legal Action Project and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence's Gun Industry Immunity page.

See LCAV’s policy page on Immunity Statutes / Manufacturer Litigation for further information on this topic.

Gun Owner Responsibilities

Firearms in Public Places

Concealed Weapons Permitting

The District of Columbia prohibits the carrying of concealed handguns in public.¹⁰⁶

See Regulating Guns in America:  Carrying Concealed Weapons for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Open Carrying

The District of Columbia prohibits the open carrying of handguns in public.¹⁰⁷ The District also prohibits the carrying of a rifle or shotgun in public.¹⁰⁸

Location Restrictions

Guns in Vehicles

Transportation of firearms in a vehicle is permitted in the District if the person is not prohibited from transporting, shipping or receiving a firearm, and is transporting a firearm for a lawful purpose to and from a place where gun possession is a lawful activity.¹⁰⁹  The gun must be unloaded, and neither the gun nor any ammunition may be accessible from the passenger compartment.¹¹⁰  If the vehicle does not have a compartment separate from the driver's compartment, the firearm and ammunition must be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console, and the firearm must be unloaded.¹¹¹

The District prohibits a person from being voluntarily in a motor vehicle if he or she knows that a firearm is in the vehicle, unless the firearm is being lawfully carried or lawfully transported.¹¹²  An affirmative defense to this charge may be raised that the defendant, upon learning that a firearm was in the vehicle, had the specific intent to immediately leave the vehicle, but did not have a reasonable opportunity under the circumstances to do so.¹¹³

Guns in Schools

The District of Columbia prohibits any person from illegally possessing a firearm within a gun free zone.¹¹⁴ Since the District no longer licenses persons to carry and now prohibits the carrying of guns, openly or concealed, firearms are effectively banned in gun free zones.¹¹⁵  A “gun free zone” is defined to include any area within 1,000 feet of a public or private elementary school, vocational school, secondary school, college, junior college, or university, or an event sponsored by any of these entities.¹¹⁶

Any student who brings a firearm into a public school in the District shall be expelled for not less than one year.¹¹⁷  The Superintendent of Schools shall refer to the criminal justice or juvenile delinquency system, simultaneous with expulsion, any student who is expelled for bringing a firearm into a District public school.¹¹⁸

District public school regulations governing student discipline deem “Tier V” behaviors – those that are illegal, cause significant disruption to the school operation, or cause substantial harm to the student or others – as behaviors worthy of either off-site suspension or expulsion.¹¹⁹  Behaviors such as the use, possession or brining to school of any loaded or unloaded firearm and any behavior that violates the federal Gun-Free Schools Act will result in a student’s long-term suspension off–site or in expulsion.¹²⁰

See LCAV’s policy page on Guns in Schools for further information.

Other Location Restrictions

The District of Columbia explicitly prohibits a person from illegally possessing a gun within a gun free zone.¹²¹ As noted in the District of Columbia Guns in Schools section, since the District prohibits the open or concealed carrying of guns, they are effectively banned in gun free zones.¹²²  A “gun free zone” is defined as any area within 1,000 feet of public or private day care centers, elementary school, vocational school, secondary school, college, junior college, or university, or any public swimming pool, playground, video arcade, youth center, or public library, or in and around public housing, or an event sponsored by any of these entities.¹²³

The District also prohibits a person from carrying or having readily accessible a firearm upon the U.S. Capitol Grounds or within any of the Capitol Buildings.¹²⁴  “Capitol Buildings” are the U.S. Capitol, the Senate and House Office Buildings and garages, the Capitol Power Plant, all subways and enclosed passages connecting two or more of such structures, and the real property underlying and enclosed by any such structure.¹²⁵

In addition, the District prohibits firearms and ammunition in penal institutions.¹²⁶

Firearms are not allowed in public buildings and grounds owned and leased by the District of Columbia Government and under the direct control of the Office of Property Management.¹²⁷  The District also prohibits possession of any firearm or ammunition in low-rent public housing.¹²⁸

The District may prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on its property and any property under its control.¹²⁹ The District also allows private persons or entities owning property in the District to prohibit or restrict gun possession on their property.¹³⁰

Notwithstanding any other District law, a person holding a valid registration certificate for a firearm may carry that firearm:

• Within the registrant's home;

• While it is being used for lawful recreational purposes;

• While it is kept at the registrant’s place of business; or

While it is being transported for a lawful purpose as expressly authorized by District or federal statute and in accordance with the requirements of that statute.¹³¹

Consumer & Child Safety

Design Safety Standards for Handguns

The District of Columbia has established the District Roster of Handguns Determined Not to Be Unsafe (“District Roster”).  The District Roster constitutes those handguns that may be manufactured, sold, given, loaned, exposed for sale, transferred or imported into the District and that may be owned or possessed within the District.¹³²  The District Roster must include any handgun:

• That is on the California Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale (“California Roster,” currently the strongest and most detailed of design safety and testing rosters in the nation) as of January 1, 2009, unless the gun is an unregisterable firearm under District law effective March 31, 2009;

• That was listed on the California Roster prior to January 1, 2009, which was, or is subsequently, removed from the California Roster for any reason not related to the gun's safety;

• Listed on the January 1, 2009, Maryland Department of State Police Official Handgun Roster, unless such handgun is an unregisterable firearm under District law effective March 31, 2009; or

• Listed on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security Approved Firearms Roster, as of April 2, 2009, unless such handgun is an unregisterable firearm under District law effective March 31, 2009.¹³³

A handgun will be deemed to be included on the District Roster if another handgun type made by the same manufacturer is already listed and the unlisted handgun differs from the listed type only in one or more of the following features:

• Finish, including, but not limited to, bluing, chrome-plating, oiling, or engraving;

• The material from which the grips are made;

• The shape or texture of the grips, so long as the difference in grip shape or texture does not in any way alter the dimensions, material, linkage, or functioning of the magazine well, the barrel, the chamber, or any of the components of the firing mechanism of the pistol; or

• Any other purely cosmetic feature that does not in any way alter the dimensions, material, linkage, or functioning of the magazine well, the barrel, the chamber, or any of the components of the firing mechanism of the pistol.¹³⁴

By statute, the District has codified standards for handguns based on the California Roster that may be lawfully sold or owned in the District.  In terms somewhat redundant of the District Roster, a pistol that is not on the California Roster as of January 1, 2009,¹³⁵ may not be manufactured, sold, given, loaned, exposed for sale, transferred or imported into the District.¹³⁶

A handgun that is not on the California Roster may not be owned or possessed within the District unless that handgun was lawfully owned and registered prior to January 1, 2009.¹³⁷ A District resident who owns a handgun lawfully registered prior to January 1, 2009 that is not on the California Roster and who wishes to sell or transfer that gun after January 1, 2009, may do so only by selling or transferring ownership of the handgun to a licensed firearm dealer.¹³⁸

The District Chief of Police has authority to review any additions to or deletions from the California Roster, and is authorized to revise the roster of handguns determined not to be unsafe and prescribe the guns that are permissible under the exemptions listed pursuant to D.C. Code Ann. 7-25024.4(e).¹³⁹

A licensed firearm dealer who retains in his or her inventory, or who otherwise lawfully acquires, any handgun not on the California Roster may sell, loan, give, trade, or otherwise transfer the firearm only to another licensed gun dealer.¹⁴⁰
 
There are limited exceptions to these rules, including:

•  Pistols designed expressly for use in Olympic target shooting events;

• Certain single-action revolvers;

• Transfers of firearms for use solely as a prop during the course of a motion picture, television, or video production by an authorized participant in the course of making that production or event;

• The temporary transfer of a lawfully owned and registered firearm for the purposes of cleaning, repair, or servicing of the firearm by a licensed firearm dealer; or

• The possession of a firearm by a non-resident of the District of Columbia while temporarily traveling through the District.¹⁴¹ 

See Regulating Guns in America:  Design Safety Standards for Handguns for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Locking Devices

For sound public safety purposes, the District of Columbia has established a strong, yet non binding, policy that each firearm registrant should keep any firearm in his or her possession unloaded and either disassembled or secured by a trigger lock, gun safe, locked box, or other secure device.¹⁴²

See Regulating Guns in America:  Locking Devices for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Personalized / Owner-Authorized Firearms

The District of Columbia does not require firearms to be personalized.

See Regulating Guns in America:  Personalized Firearms for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Child Access Prevention

The District of Columbia requires that no person store or keep a firearm on any premises under his or her control if he or she knows or reasonably should know that a minor (person under age 18)¹⁴³ is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the parent or guardian of the minor, unless such person: 1) keeps the firearm in a securely locked box, secured container, or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure; or 2) carries the firearm on the person or within such close proximity that he or she can readily retrieve and use it as if he or she carried it on the person.¹⁴⁴  A person who violates this requirement is liable for criminally negligent storage of a firearm and subject to a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 180 days, or both punishments.¹⁴⁵  If a person violates this requirement and the minor causes injury or death to himself, herself or another person, the criminally negligent registrant shall be subject to a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both punishments.¹⁴⁶
 
These prohibitions will not apply if the minor obtains the firearm as a result of an unlawful entry or burglary to any premises by any person.¹⁴⁷

See Regulating Guns in America:  Child Access Prevention for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Classes of Weapons / Ammunition

Assault Weapons

The District of Columbia deems assault weapons unregisterable, thereby prohibiting possession of these firearms.¹⁴⁸  Unregisterable firearms cannot be sold or transferred in the District.¹⁴⁹  The District has created a list of banned firearms under the definition of “assault weapon.”¹⁵⁰

District law provides that any manufacturer, importer or dealer of an assault weapon will be held strictly liable for any direct and consequential damages resulting from injuries or death caused by these weapons:

Any manufacturer, importer, or dealer of an assault weapon…shall be held strictly liable in tort, without regard to fault or proof of defect, for all direct and consequential damages that arise from bodily injury or death if the bodily injury or death proximately results from the discharge of the assault weapon…in the District of Columbia.¹⁵¹

The assault weapons encompassed by the strict liability law are defined under D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2501.01(3A).¹⁵²  The following exceptions apply to the District’s strict liability law:

• No assault weapon originally distributed to a law enforcement agency or a law enforcement officer shall provide the basis for liability;

• No action may be brought by a person injured by an assault weapon while committing a crime;

• The statute may not limit in scope any cause of action available to a person injured by an assault weapon;

• Any defense available in a strict liability action is available as a defense to an action brought under the District’s assault weapons strict liability laws; and

• Recovery is not allowed for a self-inflicted injury that results from a reckless, wanton, or willful discharge of an assault weapon.¹⁵³

See Regulating Guns in America:  Assault Weapons for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines

The District of Columbia prohibits the possession, sale or other transfer of any large capacity ammunition feeding device, regardless of whether the device is attached to a firearm.¹⁵⁴  “Large capacity ammunition feeding device" is defined as a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device that has a capacity of, or that can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition.¹⁵⁵

Except in certain narrow circumstances, the District’s Metropolitan Police Department is prohibited from transferring any ammunition feeding device in its possession to any person or entity other than a law enforcement officer or governmental agency for law enforcement purposes.¹⁵⁶

See Regulating Guns in America:  Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Fifty Caliber Rifles

The District of Columbia deems .50 BMG rifles unregisterable, thereby prohibiting possession of these firearms.¹⁵⁷  Unregisterable firearms cannot be sold or transferred in the District.¹⁵⁸

 See Regulating Guns in America:  Fifty Caliber Rifles for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Machine Guns / Automatic Firearms

The District of Columbia deems machine guns unregisterable, thereby prohibiting possession of these firearms.¹⁵⁹  Unregisterable firearms cannot be sold or transferred in the District.¹⁶⁰  The District defines a machine gun as:

[A]ny firearm which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger. The term "machine gun" shall also include the frame or receiver of any such firearm, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended, for use in converting a firearm into a machine gun, and any combination of parts from which a machine gun can be assembled if such parts are in the possession or under the control of a person.¹⁶¹

District law also provides that any manufacturer, importer or dealer of a machine gun will be held strictly liable for any direct and consequential damages resulting from injuries or death caused by these weapons:

Any manufacturer, importer, or dealer of a[]…machine gun shall be held strictly liable in tort, without regard to fault or proof of defect, for all direct and consequential damages that arise from bodily injury or death if the bodily injury or death proximately results from the discharge of the…machine gun in the District of Columbia.¹⁶²

Any defense available in a strict liability action is available as a defense to an action brought under the District’s machine gun strict liability laws.¹⁶³

See LCAV’s policy page on Machine Guns for further information.

Non-Powder Guns

The District of Columbia generally prohibits the possession or carrying outside any building of an air rifle, air gun, air pistol, B-B gun or any similar type gun.¹⁶⁴  A person may use an air rifle, air gun, air pistol or B-B gun if such use is supervised by a person age 18 or older, for:

• A theatrical performance or athletic contest;

• A licensed shooting gallery; or

• Use at other locations where the use of such guns is authorized by the Chief of Police.¹⁶⁵

Persons age 18 or older may transport an air rifle, air gun, air pistol or B-B gun within the District if unloaded and securely wrapped.¹⁶⁶

The District also prohibits the sale or other transfer to any person under age 18 of an air rifle, air gun, air pistol, B-B gun or a similar type of gun, or ammunition therefor.¹⁶⁷  Such transfers are lawful if supervised by a person age 18 or older for:

• A theatrical performance or athletic contest;

• A licensed shooting gallery; or

• Transfer at other locations where the use of the item is authorized by the Chief.¹⁶⁸

See Regulating Guns in America:  Non-Powder Guns for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Ammunition Regulation

Prohibited Possessors/Registration Requirements

The District of Columbia broadly prohibits the possession of ammunition.¹⁶⁹  A holder of a valid registration certificate for a firearm of the same gauge or caliber as the ammunition he or she possesses is exempt.¹⁷⁰ Licensed firearms dealers, on-duty law enforcement officers, holders of ammunition collector’s certificates¹⁷¹ and holders of a valid registration certificate for a firearm of the same gauge or caliber as the ammunition possessed are not subject to this prohibition.¹⁷²

Federal ammunition purchaser prohibitions also apply.

Ammunition Sales Licensing/Regulation

The sale or other transfer of ammunition is also strictly regulated.  Any person or organization eligible to register a firearm may sell or otherwise transfer ammunition only to a licensed dealer.¹⁷³

Licensed dealers may sell or otherwise transfer ammunition only if:

• The sale or transfer is made in person;

• The purchaser exhibits, at the time of transfer, a valid registration certificate (if the purchaser is a nonresident, he or she must produce proof that the firearm is lawfully possessed in the jurisdiction where such person resides);

• The ammunition to be transferred is of the same caliber or gauge as the firearm described in the registration certificate (or other similar proof in the case of nonresident); and

• The purchaser signs a receipt for the ammunition (the dealer must maintain this receipt for at least one year from the date of sale).¹⁷⁴

Owners or managers of establishments where ammunition is stored or kept for sale at wholesale or at both wholesale and retail must pay a license fee of $760.¹⁷⁵  Owners or managers of establishments where ammunition is kept for sale at retail must pay a license fee of $47.¹⁷⁶

Minimum Age to Purchase/Possess Ammunition

Because a registration certificate is required for the possession of a firearm,¹⁷⁷ licensed dealers may only transfer ammunition to valid registration certificate holders,¹⁷⁸ and persons under age 21 cannot obtain a registration certificate,¹⁷⁹ persons under age 21 are generally prohibited from possessing or obtaining ammunition.

Federal minimum age requirements may also apply.

Regulation of Unreasonably Dangerous Ammunition

Under District law, a "restricted pistol bullet" is defined as any bullet designed for use in a handgun which, when fired from a handgun with a barrel five inches or less in length is capable of penetrating commercially available body armor with a penetration resistance equal to or greater than that of 18 layers of kevlar.¹⁸⁰

Licensed dealers may transfer restricted pistol bullets to only: 1) another licensed dealer; or 2) any law enforcement officer or agent of the District or the United States, when such officer or agent is on duty and acting within the scope of his or her duties when acquiring such ammunition, if the officer or agent has in his or her possession a statement from the head of his or her agency stating that the item is to be used only in official duties.¹⁸¹

The District prohibits firearm registration certificate holders from possessing restricted pistol bullets.¹⁸²

Federal law also prohibits certain kinds of armor-piercing ammunition.

See Regulating Guns in America:  Ammunition Regulation for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Investigating Gun Crimes

Microstamping / Ballistic Identification

Ballistic Identification

The District of Columbia’s Chief of Police must ensure that any handgun to be registered in the District is submitted for a ballistics identification procedure.¹⁸³

Any applicant seeking to register a handgun in the District must, prior to transfer, present the sealed, approved firearm registration application to the licensed firearms dealer selling the handgun and take the handgun directly to the Firearms Registration Section of the District’s Metropolitan Police Department for completion of a ballistic identification procedure, and pay a $12 fee.¹⁸⁴  If the applicant purchases from a dealer located in another jurisdiction, the applicant must have that dealer transport the applicant's handgun to a licensed dealer in the District where the applicant will accept transfer pending completion of a ballistic identification procedure.¹⁸⁵

Failure to comply with the ballistics identification requirement will result in the denial of the registration application or revocation of the registration for that handgun, and may subject the handgun owner to criminal charges.¹⁸⁶

Microstamping Requirements

The District prohibits licensed dealers from selling or offering for sale any firearm that does not have imbedded into the metal portion of such firearm a unique manufacturer's identification number or serial number.¹⁸⁷

Beginning January 1, 2011, the District will prohibit any licensed dealer from selling or offering for sale any semiautomatic pistol manufactured on or after January 1, 2011 that is not “microstamp-ready.”¹⁸⁸  “Microstamp-ready” means a semiautomatic pistol that is manufactured to produce a unique alpha-numeric or geometric code on at least two locations on each expended cartridge case that identifies the make, mode, and serial number of the pistol.¹⁸⁹  A semiautomatic pistol will be microstamp-ready if it is:

• Manufactured in the District of Columbia;

• Manufactured on or after January 1, 2011, and delivered or caused to be delivered by any manufacturer to a firearms dealer in the District; or

• Manufactured on or after January 1, 2011, and sold, offered for sale, loaned, given or transferred by a firearms dealer in the District.¹⁹⁰

A semiautomatic pistol manufactured after January 1, 2011 that is not microstamp-ready and was acquired outside of the District by a person who was not a District resident at the time of acquisition but who subsequently moved into the District shall be registered if the requirements of this unit are met, and may be sold, transferred, or given away but only by a licensed dealer.¹⁹¹ If a dealer lawfully acquires a microstamp-ready semiautomatic pistol that was originally purchased by a non-dealer resident of the District, the dealer shall not sell, offer for sale, loan, give, or transfer that pistol if he or she knows or reasonably should have known that the unique alphanumeric or geometric code associated with that pistol has been changed, altered, removed, or obliterated, excepting for normal wear.¹⁹²

Beginning January 1, 2011, a manufacturer transferring a pistol to a firearms dealer for sale in the District will be required to certify that the pistol was manufactured on or after January 1, 2011 and that:

• The pistol will produce a unique alpha-numeric code or a geometric code on each cartridge case that identifies the make, model, and serial number of the semiautomatic pistol that expended the cartridge casing; and

• The manufacturer will supply the Chief of Police with the make, model, and serial number of the pistol that expended the cartridge case, when presented with an alpha-numeric or geometric code from a cartridge case, provided, that the cartridge case was recovered as part of a legitimate law enforcement investigation.¹⁹³

Except for normal wear, the District prohibits any person from changing, altering, removing or obliterating the unique alpha-numeric or geometric code associated with that pistol.¹⁹⁴  Replacing a firing pin that has been damaged or worn and is in need of replacement for the safe use of the semiautomatic pistol or for a legitimate sporting purpose shall not alone be evidence that someone has violated this provision.¹⁹⁵
 
See Regulating Guns in America:  Ballistic Identification for a comprehensive discussion of this issue.

Trafficking

The District of Columbia prohibits any person from providing false information or false evidence of his or her identity when purchasing a handgun or machine gun.¹⁹⁶

The District also prohibits any person from changing, altering, removing, or obliterating the name of the maker, model, manufacturer's number, or other mark or identification on any handgun or machine gun.  Possession of any handgun or machine gun upon which any such mark was changed, altered, removed or obliterated shall be prima facie evidence that the possessor has changed, altered, removed or obliterated the marks within the District.¹⁹⁷

The District has created a “Firearms Bounty Fund” that makes payments of cash rewards to persons who provide District law enforcement agencies with tips that lead to the adjudication or conviction of: 1) a person or entity engaged in the illegal sale, rental, lease, or loan of a firearm in exchange for money or other thing of value; or 2) a person who has committed a crime with a firearm.¹⁹⁸  Cash rewards shall be determined at the discretion of the Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police Department and may range up to $100,000 per tip.¹⁹⁹

Other Significant Statutes

Gun Offender Registry

The District of Columbia has created a gun offender registry, requiring a gun offender to register with the Chief of Police for a period of two years.²⁰⁰  A "gun offender" is any person: 1) convicted of a gun offense²⁰¹ within the District; 2) convicted of a gun offense and resides in the District; or 3) who has as a mandatory condition of release a registration requirement in the District.²⁰²

The gun offender must register:

• Within 48 hours of:

• Release, if the gun offender receives a sentence of imprisonment;

• The time sentence is imposed, if the sentence does not include imprisonment;

• Remaining in the District to reside, work, or attend school after receipt of notice of the obligation to register; or

• Changing the place where he or she resides, works, or attends school in the District or elsewhere;²⁰³ and

• By personally appearing at an office designated by the Chief to sign a statement under oath, verified by documentation, that provides:

• The gun offender's name, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, and eye color;

• The address where the gun offender resides or expects to reside in the District;

• Any other legal names of the gun offender;

• Aliases of the gun offender;

• The jurisdiction and a description of the offense for which the gun offender was convicted and the date of conviction;

• Fingerprints of the gun offender;

• The identification number of the gun offender's driver's license or non-driver photo identification card;

• The name and address of any school the gun offender attends or expects to attend; and

• The name and address of the gun offender's expected place of work, including the name and phone number of a supervisor.²⁰⁴

During the period in which a gun offender is required to register under this subchapter, the gun offender also must:

• No later than 20 calendar days following the one-year anniversary of the gun offender's initial registration date, personally appear at a place designated by the Chief to verify the required registration information;

• If a gun offender required to register under District law is confined to any federal, state, or local correctional facility, residential treatment center, hospital, or institution throughout the 20-day period following the one-year anniversary of the gun offender's initial registration date, the gun offender shall personally appear to verify required registration information within 48 hours of release.²⁰⁵

If a gun offender neither resides, works, nor attends school in the District, he or she will not be required to comply with the aforementioned reporting and verification provisions.²⁰⁶
 
A gun offender is required to comply with the registration and verification provisions for a period beginning when he or she is sentenced for a gun offense and continuing until two years after the expiration of any time being served on probation, parole, supervised release, or conditional release, or two years after the gun offender is unconditionally released from a correctional facility, prison, hospital, or other place of confinement, whichever is latest.²⁰⁷  The registration period pauses any time the gun offender fails to register or otherwise fails to comply with registration requirements.²⁰⁸

When a defendant is convicted of a gun offense, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (“Court”) is required to enter an order certifying that the defendant is a gun offender.  As part of that order, the Court will:

• Advise the gun offender of his or her registration duties under District law;

• Order the gun offender to report to the Chief to register; and

• Order the gun offender to comply with the registration requirements under District law.²⁰⁹

When a Court orders the release of a gun offender into the community following a period of detention, incarceration, confinement, civil commitment or hospitalization, the Court must provide the gun offender with a copy of the order and require him or her to read and sign a the order.²¹⁰

For persons who have not been required to comply with the District’s registration requirements but nevertheless qualify, the Court may enter an order certifying that a person convicted of a gun offense within the period for which registration is required is a gun offender and issue an order requiring that person to register and comply with District registration laws.²¹¹  Moreover, any person convicted of a gun offense in a jurisdiction other than the District who is ordered by competent authority in that jurisdiction to register as a gun offender in the District must comply with District registration requirements.²¹²

Gun offender registration information may only be made available to other local, state, or federal government agencies.²¹³  This information will not be made available as a public record.²¹⁴

Any knowing violation by a gun offender of the District’s registration requirements, including knowingly failing to register, verify, or update information in the manner and within the time periods provided under District law is criminally liable for a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 12 months, or both such penalties.²¹⁵

            Voluntary Surrender of Firearms to Law Enforcement

Persons who, or organizations that, voluntarily deliver and abandon any firearm or ammunition at any time to the Chief of Police will not be subject to arrest and prosecution on a charge of violating any provision of the District of Columbia’s firearms and ammunition provisions with respect to the gun or ammunition voluntarily delivered.²¹⁶  Delivery may be made at any police district, station, or central headquarters, or by summoning a police officer to the person's residence or place of business.²¹⁷ Every firearm and destructive device to be delivered and abandoned must be safely transported²¹⁸ and, in the case of delivery to a police facility, the package must be carried in open view.²¹⁹  No amount of money shall be paid for any firearm, destructive device, or ammunition delivered and abandoned.²²⁰

Whenever any firearm is surrendered, the Chief is required to inquire of the U.S. Attorney and Attorney General for the District whether such firearm is needed as evidence.²²¹  If the gun is not needed as evidence, it will be destroyed.²²²

            Confiscation of Firearms Deemed a Nuisance

The District deems “dangerous articles” such as a handgun, machine gun, sawed-off shotgun or “[a]ny instrument, attachment, or appliance for causing the firing of any firearms to be silent or intended to lessen or muffle the noise of the firing of any firearm…,” that are unlawfully owned, possessed, or carried, to be a nuisance.²²³

When a police officer, in the course of a lawful arrest or lawful search, discovers a dangerous article the officer reasonably believes is a nuisance, the officer is required to take possession of the article and surrender it to the property clerk of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).²²⁴

Within 30 days after such surrender, a person may file a written claim for possession of the dangerous article.  The MPD will then notify each claimant of the time and place of a hearing to determine which claimant, if any, is entitled to possession of the dangerous article.²²⁵  At the hearing, the property clerk will receive evidence with respect to the claims and determine which claimant, if any, is entitled to possession of such dangerous article.²²⁶  Any claimant receiving an adverse decision by the property clerk may, within 30 days after the day the decision was mailed to such claimant, file an appeal in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. During the appeal, the property clerk must not dispose of the dangerous article.²²⁷

If a person claiming a dangerous article is entitled to its possession, he or she shall be given possession of the item.²²⁸  If no person claiming the article is entitled to it, there is no claimant or appeal, or the appeal is dismissed or withdrawn, the property clerk is required to destroy the dangerous article or, alternatively, and upon order of the Mayor of the District of Columbia, transfer it for use by a federal or District law-enforcing agency.²²⁹

Criminal Penalties for Violations of District Firearms Control Laws

Generally, any person convicted of violating any provision in the District’s firearms control regulations may be fined up to $1,000, imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.²³⁰

Any person who knowingly or intentionally sells, transfers or distributes a firearm, destructive device, or ammunition to a person under age 18 may be fined up to $10,000, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both.²³¹

In addition, any person convicted of knowingly possessing restricted pistol bullets may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 10 years and shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a mandatory-minimum term of not less than one year and will not be released from prison or granted probation or suspension of sentence prior to serving the mandatory-minimum sentence, and, in addition, may be fined an amount not to exceed $10,000.²³²

Any person convicted a second time for possessing an unregistered firearm may be fined up to $5,000, imprisoned for up to five years, or both.²³³  For a person violating this provision who possesses a handgun or a firearm that could otherwise be registered in the person’s dwelling, place of business or on other land possessed by the person may be fined up to only $1,000, imprisoned for up to one year, or both.²³⁴

Any conveyance, including vehicles and vessels in which any person or persons transport, possess, or conceal any firearm, or in any manner use to facilitate a violation of D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.02 (prohibitions on registering certain types of firearms), § 22-4503 (unlawful possession of firearms by certain persons), or § 22-4504 (certain gun possession prohibitions) will be seized by and forfeited to the District, provided that:

• No conveyance used by any person as a duly licensed common carrier in the course of transacting business as a licensed common carrier is subject to forfeiture, unless the owner or other person in charge of the conveyance is a consenting party or has knowledge of a violation of the District’s gun laws; and

• The forfeiture of a conveyance encumbered by a bona fide security interest is subject to the interest of the secured party if the secured party neither had knowledge of, nor consented to, the illegal act giving rise to forfeiture.²³⁵

An innocent owner's interest in a conveyance which has been seized shall not be forfeited under these provisions.²³⁶

State Links

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington Field Division (VA, DC)

District of Columbia Coalition Against Domestic Violence

District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department, Firearm Registration in the District of Columbia (Overview)

District of Columbia, Office of the Attorney General

Footnotes

^1. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, WISQARS Injury Mortality Reports, 1999-2007, at http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_sy.html.

^2. Mayors Against Illegal Guns, The Movement of Illegal Guns in America: The Link between Gun Laws and Interstate Gun Trafficking 7, 24, at http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/downloads/pdf/trace_report_final.pdf.

^3. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information, District of Columbia, January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009 (Trace Data Report), at http://www.atf.gov/statistics/download/trace-data/2009/2009-trace-data-district-of-columbia.pdf.

^4. U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, List of Federal Firearms Licensees (June 2010), District of Columbia, at http://www.atf.gov/about/foia/ffl-list.html.

^5. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2501.01(12).

^6. D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2502.01, 7-2502.06(a).  If the gun is being brought into the District, an application for registration must be filed immediately after the gun is brought into the District, or within 48 hours if such person personally communicates with the Metropolitan Police Department and provides any information demanded by the Department.  Id.

^7. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.02(a)(4).

^8. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.02(a)(4)(C).

^9. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.03(a).

^10. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2309.1.

^11. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.03(a)(1).

^12. Id. Such registration certificate expires on the person's 21st birthday.

^13. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2301.1.

^14. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4507.

^15. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.06(1). See also D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2302.1, 2302.3 (generally prohibiting the transfer of any firearm or ammunition to a person under age 18).

^16. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.03(a)(4)(D).  “Intrafamily offense” is defined as interpersonal, intimate partner, or intrafamily violence.  D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2501.01(9A), referencing the definitions for intrafamily offenses proceedings under D.C. Code Ann. § 16-1001(8).  “Interpersonal violence” means an act punishable as a criminal offense that is committed or threatened to be committed by an offender upon a person: 1) with whom the offender shares or has shared a mutual residence; or 2) who is or was married to, in a domestic partnership with, divorced or separated from, or in a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship with another person who is or was married to, in a domestic partnership with, divorced or separated from, or in a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship with the offender.  D.C. Code Ann. § 16-1001(6).  “Intimate partner violence” means an act punishable as a criminal offense that is committed or threatened to be committed by an offender upon a person: 1) to whom the offender is or was married; 2) with whom the offender is or was in a domestic partnership; or 3) with whom the offender is or was in a romantic, dating, or sexual relationship.  D.C. Code Ann. § 16-1001(7).  “Intrafamily violence” means an act punishable as a criminal offense that is committed or threatened to be committed by an offender upon a person to whom the offender is related by blood, adoption, legal custody, marriage, or domestic partnership, or with whom the offender has a child in common.  D.C. Code Ann. § 16-1001(9).

^17. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4503(a)(6).

^18. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.03(a)(12).

^19. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.03(a)(9).

^20. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4517(c).

^21. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4517(a), (b).

^22. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, Survey of State Procedures Related to Firearm Sales, 2005 72 (Nov. 2006), at: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/ssprfs05.pdf.

^23. D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2502.01, 7-2502.03, 7-2502.06(a), 7-2505.02(c).

^24. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.01.

^25. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.02(a). The District has other transfer restrictions that apply to all sellers of firearms in the district.  These appear to apply only to licensed dealers, however.  Sellers must wait to deliver a firearm to a purchaser after 10 days have elapsed from the time of application (except for transfers to certain law enforcement officers).  D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4508.  Firearms must be transported safely and lawfully (See D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4504.02.)  D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4508.  Prior to transfer, purchasers must sign in duplicate and deliver to the seller a statement containing his or her full name, address, occupation, color, place of birth, the date and hour of application, the caliber, make, model, and manufacturer's number of the firearm to be purchased and a statement that the purchaser is not forbidden by D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4503 from possessing a firearm. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4508. The seller shall, within six hours after such application, sign and attach his or her address and deliver a copy to the Chief of Police, and retain the other copy for six years.  D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4508.

^26. 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(4).

^27. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.03(e).  See also D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2305.3.

^28. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.03(e).

^29. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4508.

^30. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.01(b).

^31. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.02(a).

^32. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.02(b). See D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2321 et seq.

^33. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.03(b).

^34. Id. See D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.06 for procedures regarding the denial or revocation of a dealer's license.

^35. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.02(c).

^36. D.C. Code Ann. §§ 22-4509, 22-4510.

^37. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4509.

^38. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.02(a).

^39. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.04(a) (3).

^40. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.04(b).

^41. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.04(c).

^42. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.05.

^43. Id.

^44. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4510(a)(4).

^45. Id.

^46. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4510(a)(5).

^47. Id.

^48. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 16, § 1003.7(c).

^49. D.C. Code Ann. § 2504.04(a)(2).

^50. D.C. Code Ann. § 2504.04(a)(1).

^51. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.07(a); D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4510(a)(6).

^52. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.07(b).

^53. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.07(a).

^54. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.02(d).

^55. Id., D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.02(b), (e).

^56. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2531.02(a).

^57. Id.

^58. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2531.02(b).

^59. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2531.03.

^60. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2551.02.

^61. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2551.03.

^62. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 11, § 602.1(i).

^63. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 11, §§ 901.2, 902.1(r).

^64. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 11, § 702.4.

^65. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 11, § 721.3(u).

^66. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.01.

^67. Unregisterable firearms, such as machine guns, assault weapons, .50 BMG rifles or certain unsafe handguns, among others, cannot be registered and therefore cannot be transferred. See D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.02.

^68. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.02(a). The District has other transfer restrictions that apply to all sellers of firearms in the district.  These appear to apply only to licensed dealers, however.  Sellers must wait to deliver a firearm to a purchaser after 10 days have elapsed from the time of application (except for transfers to certain law enforcement officers).  D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4508.  Firearms must be transported safely and lawfully (See D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4504.02.)  D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4508.  Prior to transfer, purchasers must sign in duplicate and deliver to the seller a statement containing his or her full name, address, occupation, color, place of birth, the date and hour of application, the caliber, make, model, and manufacturer's number of the firearm to be purchased and a statement that the purchaser is not forbidden by D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4503 from possessing a firearm. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4508. The seller shall, within six hours after such application, sign and attach his or her address and deliver a copy to the Chief of Police, and retain the other copy for six years.  D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4508.

^69. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4507.

^70. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.06(1).

^71. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.01.

^72. D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2502.01, 7-2502.03, 7-2502.06(a).

^73. D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2502.01, 7-2502.03, 7-2502.06(a).

^74. D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2502.01, 7-2502.06(a).  If the gun is being brought into the District, an application for registration must be filed immediately after the gun is brought into the District, or within 48 hours if such person personally communicates with the Metropolitan Police Department and provides any information demanded by the Department.  Id.

^75. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2320.1.

^76. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.01(a).

^77. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.01(b).

^78. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.03(b).

^79. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.04(a), (b).  See also D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2312.1.

^80. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.06(a).

^81. Id.

^82. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2313.1.

^83. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, §§ 2313.7, 2313.8.

^84. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.07(a), (b).

^85. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2311.1.

^86. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, §§ 2311.4, 2311.5.

^87. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2311.7.

^88. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2311.9.

^89. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2311.10.

^90. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.07a(a).

^91. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.07a(b).

^92. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.07a(c).

^93. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.07a(e)(2).

^94. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.07a(d).

^95. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.09(a). For revocation procedures, see D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.10.  If a registrant having his or her registration revoked, or an applicant appealing a revocation decision, receives an unfavorable decision, within seven days of the decision he or she must: 1) peaceably surrender to the Chief the firearm for which the registration certificate was revoked in the manner provided under D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.05; 2) lawfully remove the firearm from the District for so long as the individual has an interest in such firearm; or 3) otherwise lawfully dispose of his or her interest in such firearm.  D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.10(c).

^96. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.08.

^97. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.02(a).

^98. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.02(a)(4)(C).

^99. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.02(a)(4).

^100. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.04(a).

^101. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.04(b).

^102. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2320.1.

^103. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2320.3.

^104. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.08(1)(A).

^105. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.08(2).

^106. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4504(a).  D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4506, which had detailed the requirements for a license to carry a handgun, was repealed in 2009.  Thus, the Chief of Police has no authority to issue a license to carry. Exceptions exist for military and law enforcement personnel, persons engaged in the business of manufacturing, repairing or dealing in firearms, and any person carrying a lawfully-owned and transported handgun between places of purchase or repair and the person’s home or business.  See D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4505.

^107. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4504(a).

^108. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4504(a-1).

^109. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4504.02(a).

^110. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4504.02(b)(1).

^111. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4504.02(b)(2).

^112. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-2511(a).

^113. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-2511(b).

^114. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4502.01(b).

^115. See D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4504(a), (a-1).

^116. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4502.01(a).  Violations of this prohibition are enhancements to the underlying charge, and permit a court or jury to impose a fine and/or term of imprisonment up to twice that otherwise authorized to be imposed. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4502.01(b). This prohibition does not apply to certain persons, including law enforcement and members of the military. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4502.01(c).

^117. D.C. Code Ann. §§ 38-231, 38-234(a).

^118. D.C. Code Ann. § 38-232. The Board of Education shall provide to any student who is expelled from school an alternative educational program at the D.C. Street Academy, at another existing alternative educational program, or at any alternative educational program that may be established in the future. D.C. Code Ann. § 38-233.

^119. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit., 5-B, § 2502.5(a).

^120. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit., 5-B, § 2502.5(a)(13)-(15), (b).

^121. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4502.01(b).

^122. See D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4504(a), (a-1).

^123. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4502.01(a).  Violations of this prohibition are enhancements to the underlying charge, and permit a court or jury to impose a fine and/or term of imprisonment up to twice that otherwise authorized to be imposed. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4502.01(b). This prohibition does not apply to certain persons, including law enforcement and members of the military. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4502.01(c).

^124. D.C. Code Ann. § 10-503.16(a)(1)(A).

^125. D.C. Code Ann. § 10-503.26(1).

^126. See D.C. Code Ann. §§ 22-2603.01(2)(A)(iii), 22-2603.02.

^127. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 1, § 1416.4.

^128. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 14, § 6500.8(c)(2).

^129. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4503.02(a).

^130. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4503.02(b).

^131. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4504.01.

^132. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2323.1.

^133. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2323.2.

^134. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2323.3.

^135. See Cal. Penal Code §§ 12125-12133.

^136. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.04(a).

^137. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.04(b).

^138. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.04(c).

^139. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.04(f).

^140. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.04(d).

^141. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.04(e).

^142. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.02(a).

^143. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.02(d).

^144. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.02(b).

^145. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.02(c)(1).

^146. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.02(c)(2).

^147. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.02(c)(3).

^148. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.02(a)(6).

^149. D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2505.01, 7-2505.02(a).

^150. See D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2501.01(3A)(A). In those instances where the term “assault weapon” refers to a firearms manufacturer or description without including a specific model reference, the term shall be interpreted to include only those firearms produced by such manufacturer, or possessing such description, that share characteristics similar to other enumerated firearms under D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2501.01(3A)(A)(i)(I) – 7-2501.01(3A)(A)(i)(III), or possess any of the enumerated characteristics listed in D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2501.01(3A)(A)(i)(IV) – 7-2501.01(3A)(A)(i)(VIII) and D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2501.01(3A)(A)(ii) – (iii) of the Act. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2324.2.  A firearm produced by a manufacturer or that possesses a description included in the definition of “assault weapon” by statute, but which does not share characteristics similar to those enumerated firearms or the enumerated characteristics similar to other enumerated firearms described in D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2324.2, may be registered, provided that the firearm is not otherwise prohibited from registration under District or Federal law or regulation. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2324.3.

^151. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2551.02.

^152. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2551.01(1).

^153. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2551.03.

^154. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2506.01(b).

^155. Id. The term "large capacity ammunition feeding device" does not include an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.

^156. D.C. Code Ann. § 5-133.16.

^157. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.02(a)(7).

^158. D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2505.01, 7-2505.02(a).

^159. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.02(a)(2).

^160. D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2505.01, 7-2505.02(a).

^161. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2501.01(10).

^162. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2551.02.

^163. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2551.03(d).

^164. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2301.3.

^165. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2301.5.

^166. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2301.4.

^167. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2302.1.

^168. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2302.3.

^169. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2506.01(a).

^170. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2506.01(a)(3).

^171. Any licensed dealer may sell ammunition to any person holding an ammunition collector's certificate on September 24, 1976, provided that the collector's certificate shall be exhibited to the licensed dealer whenever the collector purchases ammunition for his collection, and the collector signs a receipt for the ammunition.  D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.02(e).

^172. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2506.01(a).

^173. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.02(a).

^174. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.02(d).

^175. D.C. Code Ann. § 47-2814(e).

^176. Id.

^177. D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2502.01, 7-2502.06(a).

^178. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.02(d).

^179. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.03(a)(1).  See the District of Columbia Minimum Age to Purchase/Possess section for provisions enabling persons between the ages of 18 and 21 to obtain a registration certificate.

^180. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2501.01(13A).

^181. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.02(b)(2).

^182. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2506.01(a)(3).

^183. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2502.03(d).  A ballistics identification procedure is, generally, a process, approved by the Chief of Police, undertaken to identify markings unique to a particular firearm or the ammunition used by the firearm. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2399.1.

^184. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2320.3(f), (g).

^185. Id.

^186. D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24, § 2320.6.

^187. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.08(a).

^188. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2504.08(b).

^189. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.03(a)(3).

^190. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.03(b).

^191. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.03(c)(1).

^192. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.03(c)(2).

^193. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.03(e).

^194. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.03(d)(1).

^195. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2505.03(d)(2).

^196. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4511.

^197. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4512.

^198. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2531.04(b).

^199. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2531.04(c).  District regulations state that the amount of each cash reward shall “not exceed” $100,000 per tip.  D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 24,§ 2400.5.

^200. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.02(a).

^201. "Gun offense" means: 1) a conviction for the sale, purchase, transfer, receipt, acquisition, possession, use, manufacture, carrying, transportation, registration, or licensing of a firearm under District law (D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4501 et seq.); 2) a conviction for violating D.C. Code Ann. §§ 7-2502.01 (the District’s registration requirements), 7-2504.01 (prohibitions on the manufacture of firearms, destructive devices and ammunition and license requirements for gun dealers), 7-2505.01 (prohibitions on certain sales/transfers of firearms, destructive devices and ammunition), or 7-2506.01 (prohibitions on ammunition possession); or 3) violations in other jurisdictions of any offense with an element that involves the violations listed in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this paragraph.  D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.01(3).

^202. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.01(2).

^203. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.02(a)(1).

^204. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.02(a)(2).

^205. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.02(b)(1), (2).

^206. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.02(b)(3).

^207. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.03.

^208. Id.

^209. D.C. Code Ann.§ 7-2508.04(a).

^210. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.04(c).

^211. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.04(d)(1).

^212. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.04(f).

^213. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.05(a), (b).

^214. Id.

^215. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2508.07(a).

^216. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.05(a).

^217. Id.

^218. For requirements for the safe transportation of a firearm, see D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4504.02.

^219. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.05(a).

^220. Id.

^221. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.05(b).

^222. Id.

^223. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4517(a), (b).

^224. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4517(c).

^225. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4517(d)(1). Such hearing shall be held within 60 days after the date of such surrender.

^226. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4517(d)(2).

^227. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4517(d)(3).

^228. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4517(f).

^229. D.C. Code Ann. § 22-4517(d)(4), (f).

^230. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.06.

^231. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.06(1).

^232. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.06(3).

^233. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.06(2)(A).

^234. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.06(2)(B).

^235. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.06a(b).

^236. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.06a(c).