Washington DC CCW Concealed Carry Hand Gun Legal Info

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State Legal Statute Source:

State Department Locations:

Government of the District of Columbia
Citywide Call Center : (202) 727-1000
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004

Permit Costs & Info:

Good for 6 years, checking for price.

Click Here for CCW Permit Form

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Carry Concealed CCW Reciprocity Map for all U.S. States

Washington DC CCW Reciprocity Map

States that Honor Washington DC's CCW Permit:

Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, Utah

* Honors RESIDENTIAL Washington DC permits only.

State CCW Permits that Washington DC Honors:

Washington DC,

Frequently Asked CCW Questions:

Can you have a CCW Permit in Washintgon DC?
The Chief of Police of the District of Columbia may, upon the application of any person having a bona fide residence or place of business within the District of Columbia or of any person having a bona fide residence or place of business within the United States and a license to carry a pistol concealed upon his or her person issued by the lawful authorities of any State or subdivision of the United States, issue a license to such person to carry a pistol within the District of Columbia for not more than 1 year from date of issue, if it appears that the applicant has good reason to fear injury to his or her person or property or has any other proper reason for carrying a pistol and that he or she is a suitable person to be so licensed. The license shall be in duplicate, in form to be prescribed by the Mayor of the District of Columbia and shall bear the name, address, description, photograph, and signature of the licensee and the reason given for desiring a license. The original thereof shall be delivered to the licensee, and the duplicate shall be retained by the Chief of Police of the District of Columbia and preserved in his or her office for 6 years. (July 8, 1932, 47 Stat. 651, ch. 465, § 6; 1973 Ed., § 22-3206; 1981 Ed., § 22-3206; May 21, 1994, D.C. Law 10-119, § 15(e), 41 DCR 1639.)

What are the Gun Free Zone Laws
§ 22-4502.01. Gun free zones; enhanced penalty [Formerly § 22-3202.1] (a) All areas within 1000 feet of an appropriately identified public or private day care center, elementary school, vocational school, secondary school, college, junior college, or university, or any public swimming pool, playground, video arcade, youth center, or public library, or in and around public housing as defined in 42 U.S.C.S. § 1437a(b), the development or administration of which is assisted by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or in or around housing that is owned, operated, or financially assisted by the District of Columbia Housing Authority, or an event sponsored by any of the above entities shall be declared a gun free zone. For the purposes of this subsection, the term "appropriately identified" means that there is a sign that identifies the building or area as a gun free zone. (b) Any person illegally carrying a gun within a gun free zone shall be punished by a fine up to twice that otherwise authorized to be imposed, by a term of imprisonment up to twice that otherwise authorized to be imposed, or both. (c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person legally licensed to carry a firearm in the District of Columbia who lives or works within 1000 feet of a gun free zone or to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps of the United States; the National Guard or Organized Reserves when on duty; the Post Office Department or its employees when on duty; marshals, sheriffs, prison, or jail wardens, or their deputies; policemen or other duly-appointed law enforcement officers; officers or employees of the United States duly authorized to carry such weapons; banking institutions; public carriers who are engaged in the business of transporting mail, money, securities, or other valuables; and licensed wholesale or retail dealers. (1981 Ed., § 22-3202.1; July 8, 1932, 47 Stat. 650, ch. 465, § 2a, as added Aug. 18, 1994, D.C. Law 10-150, § 3(b), 41 DCR 2594; ________, 2006, D.C. Law 16- (Act 16-482), § 223(b), 53 DCR 8610.)

Is there a waiting period for buying a gun
§ 22-4508. Transfers of firearms regulated [Formerly § 22-3208]. No seller shall within the District of Columbia deliver a pistol to the purchaser thereof until 48 hours shall have elapsed from the time of the application for the purchase thereof, except in the case of sales to marshals, sheriffs, prison or jail wardens or their deputies, policemen, or other duly appointed law enforcement officers, and, when delivered, said pistol shall be securely wrapped and shall be unloaded. At the time of applying for the purchase of a pistol the purchaser shall sign in duplicate and deliver to the seller a statement containing his or her full name, address, occupation, color, place of birth, the date and hour of application, the caliber, make, model, and manufacturer's number of the pistol to be purchased and a statement that the purchaser is not forbidden by § 22-4503 to possess a pistol [now "firearm"]. The seller shall, within 6 hours after such application, sign and attach his or her address and deliver 1 copy to such person or persons as the Chief of Police of the District of Columbia may designate, and shall retain the other copy for 6 years. No machine gun, sawed-off shotgun, or blackjack shall be sold to any person other than the persons designated in § 22-4514 as entitled to possess the same, and then only after permission to make such sale has been obtained from the Chief of Police of the District of Columbia. This section shall not apply to sales at wholesale to licensed dealers. (July 8, 1932, 47 Stat. 652, ch. 465, § 8; June 29, 1953, 67 Stat. 94, ch. 159, § 204(e); 1973 Ed., § 22-3208; 1981 Ed., § 22-3208; May 21, 1994, D.C. Law 10-119, § 15(g), 41 DCR 1639.)

What was the gun buy back program
Gun Buy-Back Program With funding provided by the DC Council, the Metropolitan Police Department is conducting a gun buy-back on September 16, 2006. As part of its commitment to reducing gun violence in DC, the MPDC has implemented a number of different strategies, including periodic gun buy-backs. Gun buy-backs allow individuals to turn in unwanted firearms to the police with no questions asked. They are granted amnesty from any gun possession charges that might apply, and—as an added incentive—receive payment for each gun. After the weapons are collected and catalogued, the MPDC's Firearms and Tool Mark Examination Section test-fires them and gathers ballistics evidence about each weapon. The MPDC works with the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to trace the weapons and track their involvement with previously unsolved crimes. The ATF also conducts an analysis of all weapons to give police officials a better understanding of gun possession and trafficking patterns. After they have been test-fired and analyzed, all the weapons accumulated during gun buy-backs in DC are melted down and destroyed at an area foundry. Between August 1999 and December 2000, the MPDC conducted three separate gun buy-backs. During these buy-backs, the MPDC collected 6,253 firearms and paid out a total of approximately $528,000. Past gun buy-backs have been jointly funded by the District of Columbia and the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Because of budgetary constraints, gun buy-backs are no longer conducted on a regular basis. However, individuals who want to voluntarily turn in a firearm, with no questions asked, may do so at any time by contacting the MPDC or visiting a district station. More information about previous MPDC gun buy-backs is available at the following: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Analysis Report (August 1999)

What is the Anit-Loitering/Drug Free Zone
Anti-Loitering/Drug Free Zone The Anti-Loitering/Drug Free Zone Act of 1996 (DC Law 11-270) provides police officers with an additional tool to protect the public from dangers associated with the sale, purchase or use of illegal drugs. The law provides that, while a Drug Free Zone is in effect, it will be unlawful for a group of two or more persons to congregate in a public space or property in that area for the purpose of participating in the use, purchase or sale of illegal drugs. A Drug Free Zone may be established by the Chief of Police, provided it meets certain criteria, particularly that there have been a disproportionately high number of drug-related crimes in that area. The Anti-Loitering/Drug Free Zone will last no more than 240 hours (10 days), and the area will be clearly identified, with signs posted along the perimeter, as well as within the zone. [Note: Originally, Drug Free Zones could last for no more than five days; legislation lengthening the time period to up to 10 days was enacted in July 2006.] While the area is designated as a Drug Free Zone, any group of two or more persons congregating on public space for the purpose of participating in the use, purchase, or sale of illegal drugs within the boundaries of the zone, and who fails to disperse after being instructed to do so by a uniformed officer of the MPDC, will be subject to arrest. An arrest under the “Anti-Loitering/Drug Free Zone Act of 1996” can result in a fine of not more than $300, imprisonment for not more than 180 days, or both. Current and Upcoming Drug Free Zones Past Drug Free Zones Criteria for Determining a Drug Free Zone Designating Drug Free Zone Violations of the Anti-Loitering/Drug Free Zone Act Enforcing the Anti-Loitering/Drug Free Zone Act Acceptable Group Activities Criteria for Determining a Drug Free Zone In determining whether to designate a Drug Free Zone, the Chief of Police shall consider the following: The occurrence of a disproportionately high number of arrests for the possession or distribution of illegal drugs in the proposed Drug Free Zone within the preceding six-month period Any number of homicides related to the possession or distribution of illegal drugs that were committed in the proposed Drug Free Zone Objective evidence or verifiable information that shows that illegal drugs are being sold and distributed on public space on public property within the proposed Drug Free Zone Any other verifiable information from which the Chief of Police may ascertain whether the health or safety of residents who live in the proposed Drug Free Zone are endangered by the purchase, sale, or use of illegal drugs or other illegal activity Designating Drug Free Zone Once a Drug Free Zone has been declared by the Chief of Police, the MPDC will mark each block within the area by using barriers, tape or police officers. The posted information will contain the following details: The boundaries of the Drug Free Zone A statement of the effective dates of the Drug Free Zone designation (not to last more than 10 days) A statement that it is unlawful for a group of two or more persons to congregate for the purposes of participating in the use, purchase, or sale of illegal drugs within the boundaries of the Drug Free Zone. Additionally, the postings will state that it is illegal if a group fails to disperse after being instructed to do so by a member of the MPDC who reasonably believes members of the group are congregating for the purpose of participating in the use, purchase, or sale of illegal drugs Violations of the Anti-Loitering/Drug Free Zone Act Essentially, any group of two or more persons congregating in a Drug Free Zone for the purpose of participating in the use, purchase, or sale of illegal drugs is violating the Anti-Loitering/Drug Free Zone Act. Additional circumstances that may be used in determining that a person or group is violating the Anti-Loitering/Drug Free Zone Act would include the following: Conducting oneself in a manner that would lead police to believe that the person is engaging or about to engage in illegal drug activity. Examples of such conduct may include: Observable distribution of small packages to other persons The receipt of currency for the exchange of a small package Operating as a lookout Warning others of the arrival of police Concealing himself or herself or any object which reasonably may be connected to unlawful drug-related activity Engaging in any other conduct normally associated by law enforcement agencies with the illegal distribution or possession of drugs Information from a reliable source indicating that a person being observed routinely distributes illegal drugs within the Drug Free Zone Information from a reliable source indicating that a person being observed is currently engaging in illegal drug-related activity within the Drug Free Zone A person is physically identified by the officer as a member of a gang or association which engages in illegal drug activity A person is a known unlawful drug user, possessor or seller, as indicated by a drug conviction within the past two years or the person displays physical characteristics of drug use (for example, “needle tracks”) Such person has no other apparent lawful reason for congregating in the Drug Free Zone, such as waiting for the bus or being near one’s own residence Enforcing the Anti-Loitering/Drug Free Zone Act If a person or persons are in violation of the Anti-Loitering/Drug Free Zone Act, they will be informed by an officer that they are in a Drug Free Zone. They will then be informed that they should disperse and depart within a reasonable timeframe, clearly specified in minutes, before any arrests are made. It is illegal for members of a group to continue to congregate on public space in the Drug Free Zone after being instructed to disperse. Failure to obey the officer’s instruction will result in arrest without a second warning. This holds true if they regroup and continue to congregate in any public space within the boundaries of the Drug Free Zone. Any person who violates the act shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of up to $300, imprisonment for up to 180 days, or both. Acceptable Group Activities All acceptable group activities are, and continue to be, lawful within the Drug Free Zone. Examples of some activities in which people may participate as a group that do not violate the Anti-Loitering/Drug Free Zone Act include: Distributing campaign literature Collecting names on petitions Soliciting community support Discussing political or religious topics Meetings for other lawful civil or personal associations

What is the status of the appeal on the hand gun ban
The D.C government will petition the Supreme Court to hear its appeal of the federal circuit court's decision to overturn the city's 30-year-old handgun ban. Mayor Adrian Fenty's office says the city's ban on most handguns can and should be defended. In March, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals sided with six district residents who sued to be able to keep their guns for self defense. The decision repealed much of the city's handgun ban, but the ban stays in place through the appeals process. D.C. Attorney General Linda Singer plans to file a 30-day extension Monday so the request can get to the high court by Sept. 5. (from Handgunlaw.us)

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