District of Columbia Gun Laws

• Highly Restrictive Climate: The District of Columbia maintains one of the most hostile environments for firearm ownership and concealed carry in the United States. While forced to become a "Shall Issue" jurisdiction following the Wrenn v. District of Columbia decision, the local government heavily regulates every aspect of possession, transport, and carry.
• Universal Registration: Every firearm physically brought into or purchased by a resident in the District must be formally registered with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). There is no permitless carry, and reciprocity with other states is entirely nonexistent.
• Expansive Sensitive Places: D.C. severely restricts where a licensed individual may carry. The combination of local government bans, vast tracts of federal property (like the National Mall), and the prohibition on carrying near public demonstrations creates a legal minefield for CCW holders.

The District of Columbia is technically a "Shall Issue" jurisdiction for a Concealed Carry Pistol License (CCPL), administered entirely by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). Non-residents may apply, but must jump through identical hoops.

• Minimum Age: 21 years old.
• Training Requirements: Extremely rigorous. Applicants must complete 16 hours of classroom instruction covering D.C. specific laws and self-defense, plus 2 hours of live-fire range training from an MPD-certified instructor.
• Background Checks: A comprehensive background check through local and federal databases, along with an extensive mental health background check, is required.
• Fingerprints: Mandatory. You must be fingerprinted in person at MPD headquarters.
• Application Fees: The application fee is $75.00, plus a $35.00 fingerprinting fee. (Additionally, every firearm must be registered for a separate fee).
• Processing Times: By law, MPD has up to 90 days to issue or deny a license, but administrative backlogs frequently push this timeline further.

D.C. enforces sweeping bans on ammunition, magazines, and specific firearm types, requiring all weapons to be registered.

• Magazine Capacity: Strictly capped at 10 rounds. Possession of a magazine holding more than 10 rounds is a criminal offense.
• "Assault Weapon" Bans: Highly restrictive. D.C. bans semi-automatic centerfire rifles, shotguns, and handguns based on a single-feature test (e.g., pistol grip, thumbhole stock, flash suppressor) and lists numerous banned firearms by name.
• Restricted Ammunition: Possession of unregistered ammunition is a crime. You may only possess ammunition of the exact caliber for a firearm you have legally registered in the District. Armor-piercing bullets are strictly banned.
• Banned Models: Dozens of specific models (e.g., AR-15 variants, AK-47 variants, MAC-10s) are expressly prohibited from registration or possession.

The District of Columbia does not recognize "Stand Your Ground" and imposes a strict duty to retreat when outside the home.

• Stand Your Ground: No. In public spaces, you must retreat or attempt to de-escalate if you can do so safely before using deadly force.
• Castle Doctrine: Yes. The District's courts have established that a person is not required to retreat within their own home before acting in self-defense against an unlawful intruder.
• Duty to Retreat: Yes. If attacked on the street or in public, D.C. law requires you to safely retreat if possible.
• Civil Immunity: No. There is no statutory immunity protecting defenders from civil lawsuits following a self-defense shooting in D.C.

Transporting a firearm in D.C. without a CCPL is extremely dangerous legally unless you perfectly comply with the federal Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA).

• Handguns (With D.C. CCPL): May be carried loaded and concealed within the passenger compartment of your vehicle.
• Handguns (Without D.C. CCPL): Must be transported completely unloaded. The firearm and the ammunition must be stored in separate locked containers in the trunk or a location inaccessible from the passenger compartment. You must be on a continuous journey through the District.
• Long Guns: Must be completely unloaded and securely locked away, regardless of permit status.
• Federal Gun-Free School Zone Act: Because D.C. is a federal district with severe overlapping restrictions, possessing a firearm near a school without the specific D.C. CCPL is a severe criminal offense.

D.C. requires universal registration and heavily monitors all firearm acquisitions.

• Registration Requirement: Every firearm must be registered with MPD. You cannot purchase or take possession of a firearm without an approved registration certificate.
• Dealer & Private Sales: Universal background checks are required. All transfers, including private sales, must go through the District's sole FFL transfer service or MPD's specialized unit.
• Waiting Periods: A strict 10-day waiting period applies to all firearm purchases before you can take possession.
• CCW Bypass: A D.C. CCPL does not bypass the registration requirements, background checks, or the 10-day waiting period.

The District of Columbia has a highly active Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) framework.

• Who Can File: Law enforcement officers, family members, household members, and mental health professionals can petition the D.C. Superior Court.
• Process and Duration: An ex parte (temporary) ERPO can be issued for up to 14 days, requiring immediate surrender of all firearms, ammunition, and registration certificates. A final ERPO, issued after a hearing, lasts up to one year and can be renewed.
• Appeal: Respondents may request a hearing to terminate the order by proving they do not pose a significant danger to themselves or others.

Carrying a pistol without a valid D.C. CCPL (Carrying a Pistol Without a License - CPWL) is a severe felony in the District of Columbia. A first offense carries a potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $12,500. Furthermore, simply possessing unregistered ammunition or an unregistered firearm inside D.C. boundaries can lead to a year in jail per offense.

Even for CCPL holders, carrying into one of D.C.'s many prohibited zones (like the Metro, a restaurant serving alcohol, or within 1,000 feet of a dignitary or demonstration) is aggressively prosecuted. It generally results in the immediate and permanent revocation of the CCPL, confiscation of the firearm, and misdemeanor or felony charges depending on the specific location breached.