In general, rifles, shotguns, revolvers, and handguns may be registered in the District of Columbia. However, registration of the following firearms is prohibited:
- Sawed-off shotguns;
- Machine guns;
- Short-barreled rifles;
- .50 caliber BMG rifles;
- “Assault weapons,” as defined by DC Code § 7-2501.01(3A); and
- Designated unsafe firearms prohibited by 504 of the Firearms Regulation Act of 2008, DC Code § 7-2505.04.
Reference: DC Code § 7-2502.02
The District Roster of Handguns Determined Not to be Unsafe (District Roster) includes the California Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale (also known as the California Roster of Handguns Determined Not to be Unsafe) and handguns that are on the safe gun rosters of Maryland and Massachusetts.
Handguns on the California Roster have passed firing, safety, and drop tests and are certified for sale in California by the California Department of Justice. The Maryland and Massachusetts safe gun rosters allow for handguns with superficial differences, such as color or grip material, to be registered. The District Roster helps protect residents from unsafe handguns that are more prone to accidental discharge, lack safety devices, and may be prone to firing when dropped.
Reference: 24 DC Mun. Regs. § 2323.2
Firearms Portal
Do you already have registered firearms or a concealed carry license in DC? If yes, you can go straight to MPD’s new Firearms Portal. You will need to create a profile the first time you use the portal.
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