Washington DC NFA Rules and Allowable NFA Items

Washington DC gun laws are notoriously strict. All firearms possessed in Washington D.C. must be registered, and there is a process for this for handguns, rifles and shotguns, however DC does not allow machine guns to be registered so they are effectively illegal. Also, suppressors and “sawed off shotguns” are expressly illegal. Short-barreled rifles are not mentioned in the code, however Washington D.C. bans so called “assault weapons” by description and brand names.

Possession of NFA Items:

Section 571.020. Possession--manufacture--transport--repair--sale of certain weapons a crime--exceptions--penalties.

1. A person commits a crime if such person knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs, or sells:

(1) An explosive weapon;
(2) An explosive, incendiary or poison substance or material with the purpose to possess, manufacture or sell an explosive weapon;
(3) A gas gun;
(4) A bullet or projectile which explodes or detonates upon impact because of an independent explosive charge after having been shot from a firearm; or (5) Knuckles; or
(6) Any of the following in violation of federal law:
     (a) A machine gun;      (b) A short-barreled rifle or shotgun;       (c) A firearm silencer

2. A person does not commit a crime pursuant to this section if his conduct involved any of the items in subdivisions (1) to (5) of subsection 1, the item was possessed in conformity with any applicable federal law…

*NOTE: Emphasis added

Legal Disclaimer:

This information is provided as a service to the public. It is NOT intended as legal advice and should never be considered as such. This information was up to date at the time of publication.