D.C. Gun Laws and Proposed Amendments
Vivian S. Chu
Legislative Attorney
June 28, 2010
Congressional Research Service
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www.crs.gov
R40474
CRS Report for Congress
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repared for Members and Committees of Congress

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D.C. Gun Laws and Proposed Amendments

Summary
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, which declared
three firearms provisions of the D.C. Code unconstitutional, a flurry of legislation was introduced
both in Congress and in the District of Columbia Council. In the 110th Congress, the House of
Representatives passed H.R. 6842, the Second Amendment Enforcement Act. In the 111th
Congress, similar provisions were incorporated as an amendment to the District of Columbia
Voting Rights Act of 2009 (S. 160), which was passed by the Senate. At the same time, the
District Council also passed its own legislation that made permanent amendments to D.C.’s
firearms control regulations. The two bills from the District are the Firearms Control Amendment
Act of 2008 and the Inoperable Pistol Amendment Act of 2008, which amended the D.C. Code in
an effort to comply with the ruling in Heller as well as provide a different range of restrictions on
firearm possession. Recently introduced legislation in both the House of Representatives (H.R.
5162) and the Senate (S. 3265) seeks to overturn or loosen many of the District’s gun provisions.
This report provides an analysis of the District’s firearms laws and congressional proposals.


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Contents
Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
Overview of Congressional and D.C. Legislation ........................................................................ 1
Analysis of D.C. Gun Laws Under the Proposed Amendments .................................................... 3
Authority of D.C. to Promulgate Rules.................................................................................. 3
D.C. Semiautomatic Ban ....................................................................................................... 5
Registration Requirements, Ammunition Sales, and Interstate Purchases ............................... 6
Registration .................................................................................................................... 6
Ammunition Sales and Registration ................................................................................ 7
Interstate Transfers of Firearms ....................................................................................... 8
Trigger Lock Requirement .................................................................................................... 8
Criminal Penalties for Possession of Unregistered Firearms................................................... 9
Regulating Inoperable Pistols and Harmonizing Definitions for Certain Types of
Firearms........................................................................................................................... 10
Prohibitions of Firearms from Private and Sensitive Public Property ................................... 10
Regulating the Carrying and Transport of Firearms ............................................................. 11
Carrying of Firearms ..................................................................................................... 11
Transportation of Firearms ............................................................................................ 12
Toy and Antique Pistols....................................................................................................... 12
Providing Jurisdiction to Office of Administrative Hearings ................................................ 13
Additional District Provisions That Would Be Affected by the Congressional Proposals ............ 13
Qualifications and Duties for Dealers of Firearms ............................................................... 13
Transfer or Sale by non-Dealers and by Licensed Dealers.................................................... 14
Assault Weapons/Handgun Roster ....................................................................................... 14
Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Devices ..................................................................... 15
Waiting Period .................................................................................................................... 15
Microstamping and Discharge of Firearms .......................................................................... 16

Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 17

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Introduction
This report analyzes recent laws that relate to the regulation of guns in the District of Columbia
(D.C. or District), and congressional proposals that would further amend these laws. The four
main statutes or bills at issue are (1) federal provisions under the National Firearms Act of 19341
and the Gun Control Act of 1968;2 (2) the D.C. Firearms Control Regulation Act of 1976, as in
effect prior to the Supreme Court’s decision in District of Columbia v. Heller3; (3) the proposed
Second Amendment Enforcement Act introduced in April 2010 (H.R. 5162/S. 3265); and (4) the
District’s legislation that permanently amends its gun laws—the Firearms Control Amendment
Act of 2008 (FCAA),4 and the Inoperable Pistol Amendment Act of 2008 (IPAA). It is also worth
noting another congressional proposal from the 111th Congress to amend the District’s gun laws,
Title II of S. 160 (Title II-S. 160). While this earlier congressional proposal and H.R. 5162/S.
3265 are substantially similar, this report will point out differences where appropriate.
This report begins with an overview of when these bills were introduced and where they stand
today. It proceeds to analyze current D.C. law after the passage of the FCAA and the IPAA, and
the effect that the congressional proposals would have on the District’s firearms laws. In doing so,
the report traces the congressional proposals section by section.
Overview of Congressional and D.C. Legislation
On June 26, 2008, the Supreme Court issued its decision in District of Columbia v. Heller,
holding by a vote of 5-4 that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess a
firearm, unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful
purposes, such as self-defense within the home.5 The decision in Heller affirmed the holding in
Parker v. District of Columbia,6 wherein the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia declared unconstitutional three provisions of the District’s Firearms Control Regulation
Act: (1) D.C. Code § 7-2502.02, which generally barred the registration of handguns; (2) D.C.
Code § 22-4504, which prohibited carrying a pistol without a license, insofar as that provision
would prevent a registrant from moving a gun from one room to another within his or her home;
and (3) D.C. Code § 7-2507.02, which required that all lawfully owned firearms be kept unloaded
and disassembled or bound by a trigger lock or similar device. However, the Supreme Court’s
opinion did not address the District’s licensing requirement, making note of Heller’s concession
that such a requirement would be permissible if enforced in a manner that is not arbitrary and
capricious.7

1 26 U.S.C. §§ 5801 et seq.
2 18 U.S.C. §§ 921 et seq.
3 For an in-depth review of the decision, see CRS Report R40137, District of Columbia v. Heller: The Supreme Court
and the Second Amendment, by Vivian S. Chu.
4 The FCAA is also sometimes cited as the Firearms Registration Amendment Act of 2008.
5 128 S. Ct. 2783, 2786 (2008).
6 478 F.3d 370 (D.C. Cir. 2007).
7 Heller, 128 S. Ct. at 2819.
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After the Supreme Court issued its decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, the D.C. Council
enacted emergency legislation to temporarily amend the city’s gun laws to comply with the ruling
in Heller while considering permanent legislation.8 The D.C. Council enacted the Firearms
Control Emergency Amendment Act of 2008, the first of several emergency enactments.9 This
first attempt to amend the D.C. gun provisions was met with criticism, as some felt that the
changes did not comply with the decision in Heller.10 At the same time, perhaps in reaction to the
Court’s decision or the District’s first attempt to temporarily amend its gun laws, H.R. 6691, the
Second Amendment Enforcement Act,11 was introduced in the 110th Congress by Representative
Travis Childers. The proposal appeared to overturn or loosen provisions of the District’s existing
gun laws (i.e., the D.C. Code as it was prior to any of the city’s emergency regulations). The
content of H.R. 6691 was subsequently adopted in the nature of a substitute into H.R. 6842,
which was passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 266-152. The Senate did not pass
H.R. 6842, and the bill did not become law. In the 111th Congress, Senator John Ensign
introduced S.Amdt. 575 to S. 160, the District of Columbia Voting Rights Act of 2009. This
amendment, which also used the language of H.R. 6842 (110th Congress),12 was approved by the
Senate on February 26, 2009, and became Title II of S. 160 (hereinafter Title II-S. 160). Although
S. 160 was passed in the Senate by a vote of 61-37, it was later reported that movement on this
legislation was stalled.13
As the House passed H.R. 6842 (110th Congress) in September 2008, the D.C. Council continued
to enact emergency legislation until permanent legislation could become effective.14 Language
contained in the emergency acts later was encompassed in the permanent legislation. In 2009, the

8 The process of enacting laws in D.C. is distinctive in that there are three different kinds of bills that can be introduced
to the D.C. Council. Bills that are to be either temporary (i.e., expire after 225 days) or permanent must be transmitted
to Congress for its consideration once they gain the mayor’s approval (or the Council overrides the mayor’s veto).
Congress then has a certain number of days to enact legislation that rejects or approves the D.C. bill; or, if the period
for review passes with no action by Congress, the bill becomes D.C. law. See D.C. Code § 1-206.02(c)(2009).
Generally, congressional review is for 30 days, unless the bill contains criminal penalties, for which Congress has 60
days to review. The passage of 30 or 60 days is a lengthy process, as the days are counted only when either house is in
session but excluding weekdays, holidays, a recess of more than three days or an adjournment of more than three days.
Therefore, it can take up to three or four months after a bill gains the Council’s or the mayor’s approval for it to
become a permanent or temporary law.
9 Emergency legislation must be approved by the mayor but does not need to be submitted for congressional review to
be enacted. See note 9, supra. Such legislation is effective for 90 days unless reenacted for another 90-day period.
Thus, more often than not, the D.C. Council will enact emergency legislation while it is considering the permanent
form of the legislation.
10 Another lawsuit was filed by three plaintiffs, including Dick Heller, alleging that the emergency act was not in
compliance with the Court’s decision in Heller.
11 H.R. 6691, 110th Cong., 2d Sess. (2008).
12 Except that the Senate language contains a “Severability” clause that would leave the provisions of the offered
amendment unaffected should the D.C. Voting Rights Act be held unconstitutional. For more information on S. 160,
see CRS Report RL33830, District of Columbia Voting Representation in Congress: An Analysis of Legislative
Proposals, by Eugene Boyd.
13 Ann E. Marimow, Bill takes aim at D.C. gun control, Washington Post B02, Apr. 28, 2010 (The voting rights act was
“dropped in part because of deep divisions over the pro-gun language among city leads”).
14 First, on July 15, 2008, the D.C. Council passed and Mayor Adrian Fenty signed into law the Firearms Control
Emergency Amendment Act of 2008. Subsequently, on September 16, 2008, the D.C. Council passed and Mayor Fenty
signed into law the Second Firearms Control Emergency Amendment Act of 2008. The provisions of this second act
differ from the first emergency act, and it is the language of the second act that was subsequently renewed in December
2008 as the Second Firearms Control Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2008, and again in the
Firearms Registration Emergency Amendment Act while the FCAA was pending in Congress.
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Firearms Control Amendment Act of 2008 (FCAA)15 and the Inoperable Pistol Amendment Act of
2008 (IPAA)16 were passed by the D.C. Council and transmitted to Congress for the requisite 60
days before becoming effective, respectively, on March 31, 2009, and May 20, 2009.
Analysis of D.C. Gun Laws Under the Proposed
Amendments
Overall, the FCAA and IPAA not only amended firearms provisions of the D.C. Code that were at
issue in Heller, but also provided a different range of restrictions on the regulation of firearms
and firearm ownership. It is worth noting that the District’s new firearms amendments under the
FCAA and IPAA were challenged and upheld in the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia on March 26, 2010.17 As discussed above, the language of Title II-S. 160 was adopted
from a bill (H.R. 6842) introduced in the 110th Congress, which originated prior to the enactment
of the two new D.C. acts. The most recent congressional legislation, H.R. 5162/S. 3265, though it
also seeks to overturn or loosen many of the District’s gun provisions, takes into consideration the
passage of these two new acts, the FCAA and IPAA. Sections 3-8 of H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would
amend firearms provisions in the D.C. Code in substantially the same manner as Title II-S. 160,18
by limiting the District’s ability to promulgate rules regulating firearm possession, and repealing
the District’s registration scheme, among other things. Sections 9-13 would preserve certain
provisions of IPAA, while section 14 would repeal other provisions of the IPAA and all of the
FCAA.
Authority of D.C. to Promulgate Rules
In general, federal firearms laws establish the minimum standards in the United States on firearm
regulations. The states, territories, and the District of Columbia may choose to supplement the
federal statutes—the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) and the Gun Control Act of 1968
(GCA)—with their own more restrictive firearms laws in a manner that does not run counter to
the Supreme Court’s decision in District of Columbia v. Heller.19
Under the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act (the
Home Rule Act),20 the District generally has authority to promulgate its own laws pursuant to the
act’s procedures. For instance, the Home Rule Act provides that “the legislative power of the
District shall extend to all rightful subjects of legislation within the District ...”21 More
specifically, the Home Rule Act authorizes the D.C. Council “to make … all such usual and

15 D.C. Legislation Number, B17-0843 (2008); D.C. Law Number, L17-0372 (2009).
16 D.C. Legislation Number, B17-0593 (2008); D.C. Law Number, L17-0388 (2009).
17 Heller v. District of Columbia, No. 08-1289, 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 29063 (D. D.C. Mar. 26, 2010) (memorandum
opinion denying plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment) (holding that the District’s handgun registration process,
ban on assault weapons, and ban on large capacity ammunition feeding devices are constitutional).
18 It should be noted that sections 5 and 7 in H.R. 5162/S. 3265 are slightly modified from the version in Title II-S. 160.
19 18 U.S.C. § 927 (stating that no provision under the GCA is meant to be construed as indicating Congress’s intent to
occupy the field in which such provision operates to the exclusion of the law of any State on the same subject matter).
20 See McIntosh v. Washington, 395 A.2d 744, 746-47 (D.C. 1978).
21 D.C. Code § 1-203.02 (2009).
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reasonable police regulations … as the Council may deem necessary for the regulation of
firearms.”22 Since much of the District of Columbia’s law that existed prior to home rule
consisted of congressional enactments, this power has often been used by the District of
Columbia to amend laws passed by Congress.23
Congress nonetheless retains the ability to legislate for the District, as well as to impose limits on
the legislative authority of the District of Columbia government.24 In the Home Rule Act,
Congress specifically reserved for itself “the right, at any time, to exercise its constitutional
authority as legislature for the District by enacting legislation for the District on any subject,
whether within or without the scope of legislative power granted to the Council ... including
legislation to amend or repeal any law in force in the District prior to or after enactment of this
chapter and any act passed by the Council.”25
Because the District legislates within delegated congressional authority under the Home Rule Act,
the question of whether the District of Columbia can amend or repeal a particular congressional
enactment would appear to depend upon whether Congress, either expressly or by inference,26
intended that such congressional act not be amended by the District. For instance, section 3 of
H.R. 5162/S. 3265, like Title II-S. 160, would explicitly provide a limit upon the District of
Columbia’s authority to legislate in this area:
Nothing in this section or any other provision of law shall authorize, or shall be construed to
permit the Council, the Mayor, or any governmental or regulatory authority of the District of
Columbia to prohibit, constructively prohibit, or unduly burden the ability of persons not
prohibited from possessing firearms under Federal law from acquiring, possessing in their
homes or businesses, transporting for legitimate purposes, or using for sporting, self-
protection or other lawful purposes, any firearm neither prohibited by Federal law nor
subject to the National Firearms Act. The District of Columbia shall not have the authority to
enact laws or regulations that discourage or eliminate the private ownership or use of
firearms (emphasis added).27
It is worth noting that the phrase—“transporting for legitimate purposes”—was added to H.R.
5162/S. 3265 presumably to address the transportation requirements that it would adopt from the
IPAA. This new phrase does not otherwise affect the analysis of this section’s language under
either H.R. 5162/S. 3265 or Title II-S. 160.

22 D.C. Code § 1-303.43 (2009).
23 For instance, D.C. Code § 22-4503 (2009), which addresses unlawful possession of firearms by drug addicts and
persons convicted of felonies or other specified crimes, is based on an act passed by Congress before the Home Rule
Act. Under the original act passed by Congress, this provision only applied to persons who had committed crimes of
violence. July 8, 1932, 47 Stat. 651, ch. 465, § 3. This act, however, was amended by the District of Columbia to its
present form.
24 Congress is constitutionally vested with exclusive jurisdiction over the District. U.S. Const., Art. I, § 8, cl. 17. For an
analysis of Congress’s authority over the District of Columbia, see Note “Democracy or Distrust? Restoring Home
Rule for the District of Columbia,” 111 Harv. L. Rev. 2045 (May 1998).
25 D.C. Code § 1-206.01(2009).
26 See District of Columbia v. Greater Washington Cent. Labor Council, 442 A.2d 110, 114-115 (D.C. 1982) (holding
that the administration of a private employment workmen’s compensation by the U.S. Department of Labor did not, by
inference, insulate that program from regulation by the District of Columbia).
27 H.R. 5162/S. 3265, Section 3.
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This proposed language emphasizes that the Council would not be empowered to promulgate
laws relating to firearms regulation either by virtue of the authority granted under the D.C. Code
or any other provision of law that could otherwise be interpreted as granting similar police power.
It is unclear, however, what would constitute “a constructive prohibition or undue burden” on the
ability of individuals to acquire firearms. The language would also appear to prevent the District
from barring firearms possession by any persons not prohibited from possessing a firearm under
current federal law and, moreover, appears to prevent the District from prohibiting the possession
of any firearm that was not already prohibited or regulated under federal law. In other words, with
the exception of carrying, discussed below, it appears that District firearms laws would be
substantially the same as federal firearms laws because the District would be limited in its ability
to create its own stricter provisions beyond that of the NFA and GCA.
Furthermore, the language does not make clear what elements would render a law or regulation in
violation of the proscription against discouraging or eliminating the private ownership or use of
firearms.28 In addition, while the proposed language would not directly revoke the District’s
general authority to enact and enforce sanctions for the criminal misuse of firearms, it appears
that the scope of this authority would be limited as well.
The last part of section 3 would not “prohibit the District of Columbia from regulating the
carrying of firearms by a person, either concealed or openly, other than at the person’s dwelling
place, place of business, or on other land possessed by the person” (emphasis added).29 Under this
phrase, it seems clear that the District could regulate concealed or open carry, but it would not be
explicitly empowered to prohibit individuals from carrying firearms altogether. Because
“regulating the carrying of firearms” could encompass an outright prohibition on such activity,
the District could still argue that it would be able to prohibit open or concealed carry altogether
(with the stated exceptions), notwithstanding the Childers language; however, an opposing
argument could be made that “regulating the carrying of firearms” does not give the District
authority to have a ban on the open or concealed carriage of firearms. This last sentence of H.R.
5162/S. 3265 differs from Title II-S. 160, which states that nothing “shall be construed to prohibit
the District ... from regulating or prohibiting the carrying of firearms” (emphasis added).
D.C. Semiautomatic Ban
Prior to Heller, the D.C. Code’s definition of “machine gun” included “any firearm, which shoots,
is designed to shoot or can be readily converted to shoot ... semiautomatically, more than 12 shots
without manual reloading.”30 By virtue of this broad definition, any semiautomatic weapon that
could shoot more than 12 shots without manual reloading, whether pistol, rifle, or shotgun, was
deemed a “machine gun,” and prohibited from being registered. It appears that under the
District’s old definition, registration of a pistol was largely limited to revolvers.31

28 It is worth noting that Congress could, in the future, exercise its constitutional authority as legislature for the District
and repeal this proposed limitation, giving back to the Council its ability to promulgate firearms regulations should
H.R. 5162/ S. 3265 become law.
29 H.R. 5162/S. 3265, Section 3.
30 D.C. Code § 7-2501.01(10)(B) (2008).
31 A revolver is generally considered to be a pistol having a revolving cylinder with several cartridges (usually six) that
may be fired in succession. In other words, a semiautomatic firearm that shot fewer than 12 shots without reloading
would be permissible.
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Under the NFA, “machine gun” is defined as
any weapon 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 shall also include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part
designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed and intended,
for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun, and any combination of parts from which
a machinegun can be assembled into such parts are in the possession of or under the control
of a person.32
In the FCAA, the District amended its definition of “machine gun” to conform with the federal
definition, above.33 By doing so, semiautomatic firearms are generally no longer prohibited from
being registered. However, the District has also chosen to mirror other state laws, like California,
and has enacted a list of prohibited firearms. (See “Assault Weapons/Handgun Roster,” below.)
If H.R. 5162/S. 3265 were enacted, the definition of “machine gun” would be restored to its pre-
Heller state because the bill would undo any changes made by the FCAA. Thus, section 4 of H.R.
5162/S. 3265 would essentially continue the definition of “machine gun” to conform with the
federal definition, above.
Registration Requirements, Ammunition Sales, and Interstate
Purchases
Registration
Although the D.C. Code has a scheme for registering firearms, the pre-Heller D.C. provisions
prohibited registration of sawed-off shotguns, machine guns, short barreled rifles, or pistols not
validly registered prior to September, 24, 1976. Together, the pre-Heller definition of “machine
gun” and the ban on registering pistols post-1976 also acted as a virtual prohibition on handguns,
which the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional in Heller.
Pursuant to the FCAA, the District now allows the registration of pistols for self-defense, and
because “machine gun” conforms to the federal definition, semiautomatic handguns are
registerable so long as the applicant meets other requirements.34 Furthermore, the FCAA includes
an exemption from the registration requirement for a person who temporarily possesses a firearm
registered to another while in the home of the registrant, provided the temporary possessor is not
barred from possessing a firearm and the person reasonably believes that possession is necessary
for self-defense in that home. The FCAA makes several amendments to the provisions that set
forth the qualification and information requirements for the registration of a firearm. For
example, a person who has been convicted, within five years prior to applying for a registration
certificate, of an intrafamily offense, or two or more violations of the District’s or any other
jurisdiction’s law that restricts driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, is prohibited from

32 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b).
33 FCAA, Section 3(a)(5).
34 One can still register and possess a shotgun or rifle under D.C. law so long as the eligibility requirements are met.
The provisions that address the carrying of firearms (handguns/shotguns/rifles) are addressed below in
“Regulating the Carrying and Transport of Firearms.”
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registering. Similarly, applicants who, within five years of applying, (1) have a history of violent
behavior; (2) have been a respondent in either an intrafamily proceeding in which a civil
protection order was issued against him or her; or (3) have been a respondent in a proceeding in
which a foreign protection order was issued against him or her, are prohibited from registering a
firearm.35 The FCAA also requires applicants to complete a firearms training or safety course and
provide an affidavit signed by the certified firearms instructor, in addition to expanding the
firearms competency test.36 Additionally, the Chief of Police (Chief) is required to have any
registered pistol submitted for a ballistics identification procedure; further, the Chief is barred
from registering more than one pistol per registrant during any 30-day period, except for new
residents who are able to register more than one pistol if such pistols have been lawfully owned in
another jurisdiction for six months prior to the application.
The District’s existing registration scheme is all-encompassing, as the registration of a firearm is
a method to also license firearms owners and acts as a permit to purchase.37 Though H.R. 5162/S.
3265 would continue to prohibit the possession of sawed-off shotguns, short barreled rifles, and
machine guns, it would, however, repeal all sections pertaining to the registration requirement.38
Thus, D.C. residents would no longer be required to have a registration certificate for the firearm,
or as a prerequisite to purchasing a firearm, and there would be no provision for licensing of gun
owners. H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would also make other conforming amendments to eliminate all
registration language.39
It is worth noting that with the repeal of the FCAA provisions under H.R. 5162/S. 3265, it
appears that the Chief would no longer be required to have any pistol submitted for ballistics
testing, nor would the Chief be required to limit registration of pistols to one per month. In other
words, there would be no restriction on how many handguns an individual would be able to
purchase per month.
Ammunition Sales and Registration
H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would amend D.C. Code § 7-2505.02, which sets forth permissible sales and
transfers of both ammunition and firearms. Currently, under D.C. law, a licensed dealer may sell
or transfer ammunition only to “any nonresident person or business licensed under the acts of
Congress,” “any other licensed dealer,” or “any law enforcement officer.” A provision under
section 5 of H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would allow the transfer of ammunition, excluding restricted

35 Post-Heller, courts have continued to uphold charges and convictions against felons who have been found to be in
illegal possession of a firearm, generally holding that the decision in Heller did not make all restrictions on firearm
possession constitutionally suspect. See, e.g., United States v. Yancey, No. 08-cr-103-bbc, 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS
77878 (W.D. Wis. October 3, 2008); United States v. Brunson, 292 Fed. Appx. 259 (4th Cir. 2008).
36 With respect to the firearms training/safety course, the FCAA requires that it be for at least one hour on a firing range
and at least four hours in classroom instruction. The applicant also needs to provide an affidavit signed by the certified
firearms instructor attesting to the completion of the course. Additionally, the FCAA expands the current firearms
competency test to include “in particular, the safe and responsible use, handling and storage” of firearms. See FCAA,
Section 3(d).
37 D.C. Code §§ 7-2502.01, 7-2502.037-2505.02(d) (2009).
38 H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would repeal D.C. Code §§ 7-2502.02 to 7-2502.11.
39 One example of a provision that would be affected by the removal of the registration scheme is the requirement to
obtain a dealer’s license. Under the D.C. Code, one must be eligible to register a firearm to be eligible for a dealer’s
license. H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would remove the “register a firearm” language and would make those who are not
otherwise prohibited by federal law or District law eligible to apply for a dealer’s license.
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pistol bullets, “to any person,” which would include D.C. residents. In addition to eliminating any
ammunition certificate language,40 this section would also eliminate the requirement of a licensed
dealer to keep track of ammunition received or sold from his or her inventory.41
Interstate Transfers of Firearms
Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(3), a firearm dealer is generally prohibited from selling handguns to
out-of-state persons, and must conduct such transactions by transferring the handgun to another
firearm dealer in the state where the purchaser resides.
Both H.R. 5162/S. 3265 and Title II-S. 160 permit interstate purchase of firearms, but do so in
different ways. In Title II-S. 160, there would have been an amendment to the federal statute that
would carve out an exception to the federal law to allow federal licensees whose places of
business are located in Maryland or Virginia to sell and deliver handguns to residents of the
District of Columbia. H.R. 5162/S. 3265, however, would place the amendment of interstate
firearm transfer in the D.C. Code itself. Thereafter, under the D.C. Code, a federally licensed
importer, manufacturer, or dealer of firearms in Maryland or Virginia would be treated as a dealer
licensed under D.C. law. Thus, notwithstanding 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(3), Maryland and Virginia
firearms dealers would be permitted to sell handguns to District residents if “the transferee meets
in person with the transferor to accomplish the transfer, and the sale, delivery, and receipt fully
comply with the legal conditions in both the District of Columbia and the jurisdiction in which
the transfer occurs.”42
Trigger Lock Requirement
The GCA requires that licensed dealers sell or deliver handguns with a secure gun storage or a
safety device,43 but there is no federal requirement on how firearms should be stored or whether
trigger locks must be used.
The District’s trigger lock requirement, which was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme
Court, went further than federal law and required any firearm in the possession of a registrant,
even if within the home, to be “unloaded and disassembled or bound by a trigger lock or similar
device” unless the firearm was kept at the owner’s place of business, or was being used for lawful
recreational purposes within the District.44
Under the FCAA, the District amended the provisions of the trigger lock requirement so that it
would be the policy of the District that any firearm in one’s lawful possession be unloaded and
either disassembled or secured by trigger lock. The FCAA prohibits a person from storing or
keeping any loaded firearm on any premises under his control if “he knows or reasonably should
know that a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the parent or
guardian of the minor” unless he or she “keeps the firearms in a securely locked box ... container
... or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure” or “carries the firearm

40 H.R. 5162/S. 3265, Section 5(b)(6) and Section 6.
41 D.C. Code §§ 7-2504.04(a)(3)(D)-(E) (2009). See H.R. 5162/S. 3265, Section 5(b)(9).
42 H.R. 5162/S. 3265, Section 5(b)(9).
43 18 U.S.C. § 922(z).
44 D.C. Code § 7-2507.02 (2008).
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on his person or within such close proximity that he can readily retrieve and use it as if he carried
it on his person.”45 The FCAA further provides that a person in violation of these firearm storage
responsibilities can be found guilty of criminally negligent storage of a firearm or other criminal
penalties.
Title II-S. 160 would repeal this section of the FCAA.46 By contrast, section 7 of H.R. 5162/S.
3265, similar to existing D.C. law, would create penalties for allowing access of minors to loaded
firearms if injury results. Under this section of H.R. 5162/S. 3265, a person would be guilty of
unlawful storage if
• the person knowingly stores or leaves a loaded firearm at any premises under the
person’s control;
• the person knows or reasonably should know that a minor is likely to gain access
to the firearm without permission of the minor’s parent or legal guardian; and
• the minor kills or injures any person (including the minor) by discharging the
firearm.
Any person who violates this section would be subject to a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or a
term of imprisonment not to exceed one year. However, there would be several exceptions.
Penalties would not apply if (1) the firearm was stored in a securely locked container and the
person did not inform the minor of the location of the key to, or the combination of, the
container’s lock; (2) the firearm was secured by a trigger lock and the person did not inform the
minor of the location of the key to, or the combination of, the trigger lock; (3) the firearm was
stored on the person’s body or in such proximity that it could be used as quickly as if it were on
the person’s body; (4) the minor’s access to the firearm was as a result of unlawful entry; (5) the
minor was acting in self-defense; (6) the minor was engaged in hunting or target shooting under
the supervision of a parent or adult over the age of 18; or (7) the firearm is in possession or
control of a law enforcement officer while the officer is engaged in official duties. If the victim of
a shooting under the section is the child of the person who committed the violation, “no
prosecution shall be brought ... unless the person who committed the violation behaved in a
grossly negligent manner, or unless similarly egregious circumstances exist.”47
Criminal Penalties for Possession of Unregistered Firearms
Currently, under D.C. law, a general violation of the registration scheme, including the
maintenance of an unregistered firearm in a dwelling place, place of business, or on other land
possessed by the owner of a firearm, warrants a fine of not more than $1,000 or not more than
one year’s imprisonment, or both.48 A person who is convicted a second time for unregistered
possession of a firearm in such areas shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more
than five years, or both.49

45 FCAA, Section 3(o).
46 Title II-S. 160, Section 207.
47 H.R. 5162/S. 3265, Section 7.
48 D.C. Code § 7-2507.06(a) (2009).
49 D.C. Code § 7-2507.06(a)(2) (2009).
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As a conforming amendment to repealing the registration scheme, H.R. 5162/ S. 3265 would
amend the D.C. Code to remove this provision. It is worth noting that Title II-S. 160 would have
further removed the criminal penalties for the intentional sale or transfer of a firearm or
destructive device to a person under the age of 18.50
Regulating Inoperable Pistols and Harmonizing Definitions for
Certain Types of Firearms
When the District amended its firearms laws, it also amended several definitions such as
“machine gun,” (discussed above) “sawed off shotgun,” and “firearm.” The FCAA and IPAA are
presumably meant to complement each other so that amended definitions or newly created terms
are consistent in both Titles 7 and 22 of the D.C. Code.
Section 9 of H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would continue the harmonization of definitions between Titles 7
and 22 for certain definitions. These include the terms “firearm,” “machine gun,” “pistol,” “place
of business,” “sawed off shotgun,” and “shotgun.”
Prohibitions of Firearms from Private and Sensitive Public
Property
The IPAA amended D.C. law to permit the District of Columbia to prohibit or restrict the
possession of firearms on its property or any property under its control. It also allows private
persons or entities who own property in the District to prohibit or restrict possession of firearms
on their property, with the exception of law enforcement personnel when they are lawfully
authorized to enter.51
Section 10 of H.R. 5162/S. 3265 also addresses property owners restricting firearms on their
premises. Under the first part of this section, “[p]rivate persons or entities owning property in the
District of Columbia may prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on their property by any
persons, other than law enforcement personnel when lawfully authorized to enter onto the
property or lessees occupying residential or business premises” (emphasis added). This provision
is unlike existing D.C. law because it would further prohibit the ability of private landlords of
businesses or residential premises to restrict their tenants from possessing firearms on such
premises.
The second part of section 10 relates to the District’s authority to restrict or prohibit the
possession of firearms on public property. Specifically, the District would be able to
prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms within any building or structure under its
control, or in any area of such building or structure, which has implemented security
measures (including but not limited to guard posts, metal detection devices, x-ray or other
scanning devices, or card-based or biometric access devices) to identify and exclude

50 Title II-S. 160, Section 208.
51 D.C. Code § 22-4503.02 (2009).
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unauthorized or hazardous persons or articles, except that no such prohibition or restriction
may apply to lessees occupying residential or business premises.52
This proposed language is arguably narrower in application in that it would apply to “buildings or
structures under its control,” whereas current law gives the District authority to regulate over
“property under its control.” Under the proposed language, it is not clear if the District could
regulate firearms on real property under its control other than buildings and structures.
Furthermore, while it is explicit that the District would not be able to exercise the granted
authority upon lessees that occupy buildings under the District’s control, it is unclear as to what
kinds of buildings over which the District would be able to exercise this authority. Would the
District be able to regulate the possession of firearms in any building that is under its control but
that does not necessarily have the requisite security measures, or would it be limited to regulating
firearm possession only in buildings and structures that have security measures. Should the
phrase—“, or in any other area of such building or structure, which has implemented security
measures ...”—be read as disjunctive from the preceding phrase? Alternatively, could the phrase
be read to relate back to describe the buildings or structures under D.C.’s control, thereby
narrowing the range of areas that would fall under this provision?
Regulating the Carrying and Transport of Firearms
Under the IPAA, the District repealed the Chief’s authority to issue licenses to a carry a concealed
firearm.53 This provision would be repealed upon enactment of H.R. 5162/S. 3265, thus re-
permitting the Chief to issue licenses for concealed carry within her discretion.
H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would continue a provision from the IPAA that explicitly prohibits a person
from carrying a rifle or a shotgun within the District of Columbia, except as otherwise permitted
by law. The exceptions for where a rifle or shotgun may be carried are discussed below.
Carrying of Firearms
Congress passed a provision that regulates a qualified current or retired law enforcement officer’s
ability to carry a concealed firearm.54 Beyond this, states may impose their own laws on carrying
firearms. As amended by the IPAA, the District currently permits persons who hold a valid
registration for a firearm (handgun/rifles/shotguns) to carry it (1) within the registrant’s home; (2)
while it is being used for lawful recreational purposes; (3) while it is kept at the registrant’s place
of business; or (4) while it is being transported for a lawful purposes in accordance with the law.55
Because the Chief’s authority to issue licenses to carry appears to be revoked under the IPAA,
these four circumstances currently seem to be the only scenarios under which a person may
possess and carry firearms.

52 H.R. 5162/S. 3265, Section 10.
53 Pursuant to D.C. Code § 22-4506 (2008), which was repealed by the IPAA, it was unclear whether one needed a
license to carry openly as well. However, there is a strong indicator that one needed to obtain a license to carry a
firearm openly because the District imposes a criminal penalty for carrying either openly or concealed without a
license. D.C. Code § 22-4504.
54 18 U.S.C. §§ 926B, 926C.
55 D.C. Code § 22-4504.01 (2009).
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H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would readapt from the IPAA and slightly modify the provision granting
persons authority to carry their firearms in certain places for certain purposes without a license to
carry. H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would allow a person to carry a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded,
without needing to obtain a license to carry
• in the person’s dwelling house or place of business or on other land owned by the
person;
• by invitation on land owned or lawfully possessed by another;
• while it is being used for lawful recreational, sporting, education, or training
purposes; or
• while it is being transported for lawful purposes as expressly authorized by
District or federal law and in accordance with the requirements of that law.56
As noted above, because the Chief’s authority to issue licenses to carry concealed would be
restored if H.R. 5162/S. 3265 were enacted, it is likely that a firearm owner could obtain a
concealed carry license and carry his or her firearm outside these four circumstances.
Transportation of Firearms
H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would continue provisions similar to those already enacted by the IPAA
pertaining to the lawful transportation of firearms. Thus, it would remain that a person, who is not
otherwise prohibited from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm, would be permitted to
transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place he may lawfully possess the
firearm to any other place where he may lawfully possess the firearm if the firearm is
transported in accordance with this section.57
If the transportation is by vehicle, the firearm shall be unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any
ammunition being transported may be readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger
compartment of the transporting vehicle.58
Also, if the firearm is not being transported by vehicle, the firearm must be “unloaded, inside a
locked container, and separate from any ammunition.”59
Toy and Antique Pistols
The IPAA made a technical change to the District Code by including toy and antique pistols as
types of firearms that are prohibited from being used to commit a violent or dangerous crime, and

56 H.R. 5162/S. 3265, Section 11.
57 H.R. 5162, Section 11.
58 D.C. Code § 22-4504.02(b) (2009).
59 D.C. Code § 22-4504.02(c) (2009). Under former District law, a person transporting a pistol would have to have it
“unloaded and in a secure wrapper from the place of purchase to his or her home or place of business or to a place of
repair or back to his or her home or place of business or in moving goods from one place of abode or business to
another.”
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violators are subject to certain criminal penalties. Section 12 of H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would
continue this technical change.
Providing Jurisdiction to Office of Administrative Hearings
H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would provide jurisdiction to the Office of Administrative Hearings to hear
cases pertaining to the denial or revocation of firearm dealer licenses. The FCAA had provided
such authority to the Office of Administrative Hearings, except that it went further to grant the
office jurisdiction over the denial or revocation of a firearm registration certificate. However,
since the registration scheme would be repealed under H.R. 5162/S. 3265, it is unnecessary to
give the office such jurisdiction.
Additional District Provisions That Would Be
Affected by the Congressional Proposals
The next provisions discussed were all amendments to the D.C. Code pursuant to the enactment
of the FCAA and IPAA. These provisions would no longer exist under the congressional proposal
because section 14 of H.R. 5162/ S. 3265 would repeal the two acts, “and any provision of law
amended or repealed by either of such Acts [would be] restored or revived as if such Acts had not
been enacted into law.”60
Qualifications and Duties for Dealers of Firearms
The D.C. Code’s provisions that govern who may qualify to apply for a dealer’s license, who is
eligible to sell and transfer firearms to a dealer, and to whom a dealer can sell are dependent upon
one’s ability to obtain a registration certificate.61 Thus, anyone who wishes to obtain a dealer’s
license, or engage in purchasing or transferring a firearm, must meet the new requirements
created by the FCAA (discussed in “Registration”), to obtain a registration certificate.
Because H.R. 5162/S. 3265 would repeal the District’s registration scheme, it would allow any
person who is not prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm under federal or District law
to qualify in applying for a dealer’s license, selling or transferring ammunition or any firearm to a
licensed dealer, or making such purchase from a licensed dealer of firearms.62 The federal
prohibitions are discussed in the next section.
Furthermore, as noted in the discussion on “Ammunition Sales and Registration,” duties such as
reporting the loss, theft, or destruction of any firearms or ammunition in the dealer’s inventory
would be repealed.

60 H.R. 5162/S. 3265, Section 14.
61 See D.C. Code §§ 7-2504.02 (qualifications for dealer’s license); 7-2505.02 (permissible sales and transfers) (2009).
62 See H.R. 5162/S. 3265, Section 5(b)(4) and (b)(9).
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Transfer or Sale by non-Dealers and by Licensed Dealers
The federal GCA lists nine categories of persons who are prohibited from possessing, shipping, or
receiving firearms. They are (1) persons who have been convicted of a crime punishable by
imprisonment exceeding one year; (2) persons who are fugitives; (3) persons who are users of or
addicted to any controlled substances; (4) persons who have been adjudicated as a mental
defective or who have been committed to a mental institution; (5) persons who are unlawfully in
the United States or admitted under a nonimmigrant visa; (6) persons who have been
dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces; (7) persons who have renounced U.S.
citizenship; (8) persons who are on notice of or are subject to a court order restraining them from
harassing, stalking or threatening an intimate partner; and (9) persons who have been convicted in
any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.63 Among other federal regulations, it is
unlawful for both licensed dealers and non-licensed persons to sell or transfer a firearm to another
if he knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the purchaser falls within one of the nine
categories above.64
Because the FCAA imposes new eligibility requirements before an applicant can be approved for
a registration certificate (see “Registration”) it follows that a non-licensed person or licensed
dealer wishing to transfer firearms must meet not only what is required by federal law but also the
additional eligibility requirements under the FCAA since anyone wishing to transfer firearms
must be eligible to register a firearm under D.C. law.
Under H.R. 5162/S. 3265, it would still be unlawful for licensed dealers and non-licensed persons
to make transfers to those prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm under federal or D.C.
law,65 but because the bill would essentially remove any registration requirement that is required
by the D.C. Code,66 it appears that the only disqualifications that would prohibit a transfer are
those listed under federal law.
Assault Weapons/Handgun Roster
Another amendment to D.C. law that would be affected by section 14 of H.R. 5162/S. 3265 is the
assault weapons ban created by the FCAA. The FCAA created a new definition of “assault
weapon” that includes a list of specific rifles, shotguns, and pistols and their variations, regardless
of the manufacturer. It also includes semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns based on the
presence of a single military-type characteristic.67 The definition of “assault weapon” also
includes any shotgun with a revolving cylinder, except that it does not apply to “a weapon with an
attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating only with, .22 caliber rimfire
ammunition.”68 Currently, the Chief also has the power to designate as an assault weapon any

63 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).
64 18 U.S.C. § 922(a)(3), (5); § 922(d).
65 H.R. 5162/S. 3265, Section 5(b)(9).
66 H.R. 5162/S. 3265, Section 5(b)(1) would repeal D.C. Code §§ 7-2502.02 through 7-2502.11.
67 E.g., FCAA, Section 3(a)(1): “(IV) A semiautomatic, rifle that has the capacity to accept a detachable magazine and
any one of the following: (aa) a pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon; (bb) a
thumbhole stock; (cc) a folding or telescoping stock; (dd) a grenade launcher or flare launcher; (ee) a flash suppressor;
or (ff) a forward pistol grip.”
68 FCAA, Section 3(a).
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firearm that he or she believes would reasonably pose the same threat as those weapons
enumerated in the definition. The definition of assault weapon does not include antique firearms
or certain pistols sanctioned for Olympic target shooting. The FCAA also makes this new
definition of “assault weapon” applicable in the Assault Weapon Manufacturing Strict Liability
Act of 1990.69 Thus, any manufacturer, importer, or dealer of a weapon deemed an “assault
weapon” pursuant to this new definition can be held strictly liable in tort for all direct and
consequential damage arising from bodily injury or death if either proximately results from the
discharge of the assault weapon in the District of Columbia.70
These changes made by the FCAA would be repealed by section 14 of H.R. 5162/S. 3265.
Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Devices
The FCAA prohibits any person in the District from possessing, selling, or transferring any large
capacity ammunition feeding device. The meaning of “large capacity ammunition feeding device”
includes 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.”71 However, the
term does not include “an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating
only with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.”72 Thus, even though residents of D.C. are now
allowed to register and possess semiautomatic firearms (see “D.C. Semiautomatic Ban”), the
FCAA prevents them from possessing large capacity ammunition feeding devices, which some
semiautomatic firearms are capable of holding.
This provision would be repealed by section 14 of H.R. 5162/S. 3265.
Waiting Period
Under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act, which amended the GCA to establish the
National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), a licensed dealer is generally
prohibited from transferring a firearm to any other non-licensed person without running a
background check by contacting NICS.73 The licensee may transfer the firearm if the system
provides the licensee with a unique identification number, or if three business days have elapsed
with no response from the system and the licensee has verified the identity of the transferee by
examining valid identification documents that contain a photograph of the transferee.74 Generally,
once the background check has been completed and the transferee approved, the licensee may
transfer the firearm unless a state imposes a waiting period. Non-licensed persons are not required
to perform a background check under federal law.

69 D.C. Code § 7-2551.01 et seq (2009).
70 The provision is also applicable to “machine guns.”
71 FCAA, Section 3(n).
72 Id.
73 18 U.S.C. § 922(t).
74 Id.
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The D.C. Code imposed a waiting period of 48 hours before a seller within the District can
deliver a pistol or handgun. Under the IPAA, however, the waiting period for the transfer of a
“firearm” is now 10 days.75 Firearm, as amended by the IPAA, means “any weapon regardless of
operability, which will, or is designed or redesigned, made or remade, readily converted, restored
or repaired or is intended to expel a projectile or projectiles by the action of an explosive”
(emphasis added).76 Thus, the IPAA makes the new waiting period apply to all firearms, not just
pistols. Title II-S. 160 would not change the waiting period, which would remain applicable for
the transfer of pistols, and not shotguns or rifles.
It should also be noted that if the IPAA is repealed under H.R. 5162/S. 3265, the waiting period to
obtain a handgun will revert back to 48 hours.
Microstamping and Discharge of Firearms
The FCAA added new provisions with regard to microstamping. The D.C. Code had already
prohibited the sale of a firearm which does not have imbedded in it an identification or serial
number unique to the manufacturer or dealer of the firearm. The FCAA now adds a new provision
requiring that beginning January 1, 2011, “no licensee shall sell or offer for sale any
semiautomatic pistol manufactured on or after January 1, 2011, that is not microstamp-ready as
required by and in accordance with sec. 503.”77 The FCAA creates two new sections, 503 and
504. New section 503 sets forth requirements that determine if a semiautomatic pistol is
microstamp-ready, and it also contains provisions that require manufacturers to provide the Chief
with the make, model, and serial number of the semiautomatic pistol when presented with a code
from a cartridge that was recovered as part of a legitimate law enforcement investigation. New
section 504 prohibits a pistol that is not on the California Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale
(California Roster) from being manufactured, sold, given, loaned, exposed for sale, transferred, or
imported into the District of Columbia as of January 1, 2009. Such a pistol is prohibited from
being owned or possessed unless it was lawfully owned and registered prior to January 1, 2009.
Furthermore, if a resident of D.C. lawfully owns a pistol not on the California Roster, that
individual can sell or transfer ownership only through a licensed firearms dealer; or a licensed
dealer who has such a pistol in its inventory prior to January 1, 2009, can only transfer it to
another licensed firearms dealer. The FCAA also requires the Chief to review the California
Roster at least annually for any additions or deletions, and the Chief is authorized to revise, by
rule, the roster of handguns determined not to be unsafe.78
Under the IPAA, the District also makes unlawful the discharge of a firearm without a special
written permit from the Chief except as permitted by law, including legitimate self-defense. It
further allows the District to prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on its property and any

75 IPAA, Section 2(e).
76 Id. at Section 2(a).
77 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 that identifies the make, model, and serial number
of the pistol. FCAA, Section 3(m).
78 On June 17, 2009, the Metropolitan Police Department issued emergency and proposed rulemaking expanding the
types of handguns that can be legally registered in the District. The regulations will establish a District Roster that will
include the California Roster and the rosters of handguns determined to not be unsafe from Maryland and
Massachusetts. See Metropolitan Police Department, http://mpdc.dc.gov/mpdc/site/default.asp (follow “Firearms
Registration” hyperlink).
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property under its control, and would similarly allow private persons owning property in the
District to prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on their property, except where law
enforcement personnel is concerned.
These two new provisions would be also repealed if H.R. 5162/S. 3265 became law.

Author Contact Information

Vivian S. Chu

Legislative Attorney
vchu@crs.loc.gov, 7-4576


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