Do Guns Have To Be Registered In Washington

General Requirements for Firearms Registration

I. Firearms Eligible for Registration

In general, rifles, shotguns, revolvers, and handguns may be registered in the District of Columbia. Delight notation that information technology is illegal to possess a mag that holds more than than 10 rounds of armament in the District of Columbia. Per D.C. Official Lawmaking § vii-2502.02, registration of the following firearms is prohibited:

Sawed-off shotguns;
Auto guns;
Short-barreled rifles;
An unsafe handgun prohibited under D.C. Official Code § 7-2505.04;
An assault weapon; or
A .50 BMG rifle.

For definitions of and more information about these prohibitions, delight see the MPD publication, "Firearms Eligible for Registration," which is bachelor at MPD or at mpdc.dc.gov/firearms.

II. Registrant Eligibility

Registration eligibility is summarized below. For consummate details, please refer to D.C. Official Code § 7-2502.03. To obtain a registration document, an applicant or registrant must:

Exist 21 years of age or older. (Applicants between the age of 18 and 21 may qualify to annals a long gun[one] if they have a notarized statement from their parent or guardian stating that the parent or guardian assumes ceremonious liability for all damages resulting from the applicant'due south apply of the firearm. This special registration, however, volition expire on the applicant'south 21st birthday.)
Not stand convicted of certain weapons offenses, or a felony in this or whatsoever other jurisdiction (which includes all crimes punishable past imprisonment for a term exceeding one year).
Not be under indictment for a offense of violence or a weapons offense.
Within the previous five years:
- Not stand convicted: (1) of a narcotics or dangerous drug crime; (2) nether D.C. Official Code § 22-404 (assaults and threats) or § 22-407 (threats to do bodily impairment), or a violation of a like statute in some other jurisdiction; (iii) of two or more than violations of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs; (4) of an intrafamily offense punishable as a misdemeanor; (5) of a misdemeanor involving certain firearms violations. (6) Stalking; or (seven) violation of an Extreme Run a risk Protection Guild.
- Not have been acquitted of any criminal charge by reason of insanity or adjudicated a chronic alcoholic by whatsoever court.
- Not have been voluntarily or involuntarily committed to any mental hospital or establishment.
- Not accept a history of violent behavior.
- Not have been the respondent in an intrafamily proceeding in which a civil protection order or a foreign protection lodge was issued confronting the applicant.
Non announced to suffer from a concrete defect which would make information technology dangerous to possess and use a firearm safely and responsibly.
Not have been institute negligent in whatsoever firearm mishap causing death or injury to another human being beingness.
Not otherwise be ineligible to possess a firearm nether D.C. Official Code § 22-4503.

Three. Duties and Responsibilities of the Registrant

Registered Firearms and Registration Certificate :
- Registrants must file a police study at a constabulary district station or at FRB immediately upon discovery of loss, theft, or devastation of a registration certificate or registered firearm.
- Registrants must notify FRB of:
  1. Any change of proper noun or address that differs from the 1 recorded on the original document.
  2. Any auction, transfer or other disposition of a registered firearm.
The registration document must be returned to MPD immediately when the registered firearm has been lost, stolen, destroyed, sold, transferred, or otherwise tending of.
The registrant must accept the registration certificate in his or her possession whenever he has possession of the firearm, and bear witness it to a member of MPD or other constabulary enforcement officer upon demand.
A violation of any of the to a higher place-listed duties may result in:
- First violation: a ceremonious fine of $100.
- Second violation: a civil fine of $500, revocation of the registration of the applicable firearm, and a 5-year prohibition on subsequent registrations.
- Third violation: a ceremonious fine of $m, revocation of the registration of the applicable firearm, and permanent prohibition on subsequent registrations.
Firearms or armament may not be loaned, borrowed, given, or rented to or from some other person.
Individuals tin can only sell a firearm to a licensed dealer in the District of Columbia. Firearms may non be pawned.
Storage of firearms:
1. Policy: It is recommended that each registrant 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.
2. Criminal Criminal offence: The police force requires that no person shall store or keep whatever loaded firearm on whatever premises under his control if he knows or reasonably should know that a minor nether the historic period of 18 is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the parent or guardian of the small-scale unless such person:
  - Keeps the firearm in a securely locked box, secured container, or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure; or
  - Carries the firearm on his person or within such close proximity that he tin can readily retrieve and use it as if he carried it on his person.
  - If the firearm is stored at a place of business organisation, it shall exist stored in a gun safe, locked box, or other secure device affixed to the holding.
3. Penalties:
  - A person who violates subsection (b) of this department is guilty of criminally negligent storage of a firearm and, except as provided in paragraph (two) of this subsection, shall be fined not more than $i,000, imprisoned not more than 180 days, or both.
  - A person who violates subsection (b) of this section and the minor causes injury or expiry to themselves or another shall be fined not more than $v,000, imprisoned not more than v years, or both.
  - The provisions of paragraphs (i) and (2) of this subsection shall not apply if the minor obtains the firearm every bit a result of an unlawful entry or burglary to whatsoever premises by any person.

It is a criminal offense to discharge a firearm in the Commune of Columbia without commencement obtaining a special written let from the Chief of Police force authorizing the discharge.

Four. Carrying Firearms

In general, you lot must exist licensed to deport a firearm in the District concealed, while open carry is prohibited. Still, there are exceptions for legally registered firearms.

D.C. Official Code § 22-4504.01. Authority to carry firearm in certain places and for certain purposes.

However whatsoever other constabulary, a person holding a valid registration for a firearm may carry the firearm:

(ane) Within the registrant's dwelling house;
(ii) While it is being used for lawful recreational purposes;
(3) While it is kept at the registrant'due south place of business concern; or
(4) While information technology is being transported for a lawful purpose equally expressly authorized by District or federal statute and in accordance with the requirements of that statute.

A resident or nonresident may utilize for a Curtained Comport Pistol License at FRB. An eligible bidder must exist 21 years or historic period, meet the requirements to register a firearm and suitability requirements, equally well meet the required firearms safe and qualifications standards. Additional information about the requirements, as well as awarding materials can be found online at mpdc.dc.gov/firearms or in person at FRB.

Five. Transporting Firearms

Commune transport police force:

§ 22-4504.02. Lawful transportation of firearms.

(a) Whatsoever person who is not otherwise prohibited by the constabulary from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall exist permitted to transport a firearm for whatsoever lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry the firearm [see § 22-4504.01, above] to whatever other place where he may lawfully possess and acquit the firearm if the firearm is transported in accord with this section.

(b) (1) If the transportation of the firearm is by a vehicle, the firearm shall be unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported shall be readily accessible or straight attainable from the rider compartment of the transporting vehicle.

(2) If the transporting vehicle does not have a compartment separate from the driver'south compartment, the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console, and the firearm shall be unloaded.

(1) Unloaded;

(2) Within a locked container; and

(3) Split from whatsoever ammunition.

Federal transport law:

U.S. Code Championship 18, Part I, Chapter 44, 926A "Interstate Transportation of Firearms";

Withal any other provision of whatsoever constabulary or any rule or regulation of a Country or whatever political subdivision thereof, any person who is non otherwise prohibited by this chapter from transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from whatsoever place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any other identify where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, and neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily attainable or is straight attainable from the passenger compartment of such transporting vehicle: Provided, That in the case of a vehicle without a compartment separate from the driver'south compartment the firearm or armament shall be contained in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

VI. Revocation of Registration Document

Registration volition be revoked if:

Data furnished in the awarding for registration proves to be intentionally false.
The registered firearm becomes unregistrable under Part I: Firearms Canonical for Registration.
The registrant becomes ineligible nether the requirements in Role II, "Registrant Eligibility."

VII. Procedures for Denial or Revocation

If an application for registration is denied or a registration document is revoked, the applicant or registrant volition be notified by mail. The applicant or registrant will have 15 days from the receipt of such notification to appeal to the Metropolitan Constabulary Department with farther prove for consideration. If the applicant does non reply within the required 15 days, the denial or revocation will get concluding.
After having been notified of a last unfavorable decision, the applicant or registrant must peacefully surrender his firearm to FRB as detailed in Part IX: Voluntary Surrender of Firearms, Subversive Devices, or Armament, remove the firearm from the District, or otherwise lawfully dispose of the firearm.

Viii. Possession and Sale of Ammunition

In general, a person shall not possess armament inside the District unless:
- He is a licensed dealer.
- He is a holder of a valid registration certificate for a firearm.
- He holds an ammunition collector's document effective prior to September 25, 1976.
- He temporarily possesses ammunition while participating in a firearms training and condom class conducted past a firearms instructor.
- He is an officeholder, agent, or employee of the District of Columbia or the United States on duty and acting within the scope of his duties when possessing such ammunition.
No person shall possess restricted ammunition, defined equally whatsoever projectile cadre which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, statuary, glucinium copper, or depleted uranium; or a total jacketed projectile larger than .22 quotient designed and intended for utilize in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile, or .50 quotient BMG armament.(D.C. Official Code § 7-2501.01 (13a))
No person in the District shall possess, sell, or transfer any big capacity ammunition feeding device regardless of whether the device is fastened to a firearm. A "large capacity armament feeding device" means a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or like device that has a capacity of, or that can be readily restored or converted to accept, more than 10 rounds of ammunition. This does not include an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of operating simply with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.

IX. Responsibleness of Estate Executors or Administrators

The executor of or administrator of an estate containing a firearm shall notify MPD inside thirty days of his appointment. Until the lawful disposition of such firearm, the executor or ambassador shall exist charged with the duties and responsibilities as described in Part IV, "Duties and Responsibilities of the Registrant."

X. Voluntary Surrender of Firearms, Destructive Devices, or Armament

If a person or organisation within the District voluntarily and peaceably delivers and abandons to the Master of Constabulary any firearm, destructive device or ammunition at any time, such commitment shall forestall the arrest and prosecution of such person on a charge of violating any provision of this section with respect to the firearm, destructive device, or ammunition voluntarily delivered. Delivery under this section may be made at whatsoever police commune, station, or central headquarters, or by summoning a police officer to the person'due south residence or place of business concern. Every firearm and subversive device to be delivered and abandoned to the Master nether this department shall be unloaded and securely wrapped in a parcel, and, in the case of delivery to a police facility, the package shall exist carried in open view. No person who delivers and abandons a firearm, destructive device, or armament under this section, shall exist required to replenish identification, photographs or fingerprints. No amount of money shall be paid for any firearm, destructive device, or ammunition delivered and abandoned under this section. (D.C. Official Code § 7-2507.05 (a)).

XI. General Penalties

Pursuant to D.C. Official Code § vii-2507.06, any person who violates certain provisions of Firearms Control Regulations Act, as amended, shall, upon confidence, be fined non more than $ane,000 or be imprisoned for not more than i twelvemonth, or both, except that:

(ane) A person who knowingly or intentionally sells, transfers, or distributes a firearm, destructive device, or armament to a person under xviii years of age shall be fined not more than $ 25,000 or imprisoned for non more than than 10 years, or both.

(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, any person who is convicted a second time for possessing an unregistered firearm shall be fined non more than than $ 12,500 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.

(B) A person who in the person's dwelling place, place of business, or on other land possessed by the person, possesses a pistol, or firearm that could otherwise be registered, shall exist fined non more $ ii,500 or imprisoned not more ane year, or both.

(iii) A person convicted of knowingly possessing restricted pistol bullets in violation of § seven-2506.01(3) may be sentenced to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 10 years and shall exist sentenced to imprisonment for a mandatory-minimum term of not less than 1 yr and shall not exist released from prison or granted probation or suspension of sentence prior to serving the mandatory-minimum judgement, and, in addition, may be fined an corporeality not to exceed $ 25,000.

Additional penalties may employ.

Notes

[1] Federal law prohibits an FFL from selling or delivering firearms other than shotguns or rifles (e.g., handguns) or armament for those firearms to whatsoever person the dealer knows or has reasonable cause to believe is under 21.