This encyclopedia entry explains District of Columbia gun laws for people researching felony convictions, prohibited-person rules, firearm purchases and carry, and restoration of gun rights. It uses current nationwide comparison sources but links readers to the official District of Columbia code because the controlling statute always governs.
Can a felon own a gun in District of Columbia?
State-law summary: District of Columbia law uses felony, violent-crime, weapons, drug, domestic-violence, stalking, and repeat-DUI history in firearm registration and possession eligibility. Unlike many states, there is no broad automatic restoration rule for felony firearm rights; the exact statutory disability and any available record relief must be researched.
D.C. also has registration, licensing, universal background checks, waiting-period rules, extreme-risk orders, assault-weapon and magazine restrictions.
The federal question is separate. 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) generally prohibits firearm and ammunition possession after a qualifying conviction, while 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) provides a federal relief route. The effect of state relief can also require analysis under § 921(a)(20).
District of Columbia firearm-law snapshot
| Jurisdiction | District of Columbia (DC) |
|---|---|
| Felony / restoration summary | District of Columbia law uses felony, violent-crime, weapons, drug, domestic-violence, stalking, and repeat-DUI history in firearm registration and possession eligibility. Unlike many states, there is no broad automatic restoration rule for felony firearm rights; the exact statutory disability and any available record relief must be researched. |
| Concealed carry framework | A state/DC permit generally remains part of lawful concealed carry for qualifying adults. |
| Private-sale background checks | Broad background-check requirement applies to many or all private firearm transfers, subject to exceptions. |
| Purchaser permit / licensing | A purchase permit, owner license, eligibility credential, or comparable state requirement applies to at least some firearm acquisitions. |
| Extreme-risk order law | No broad statewide extreme-risk protection order law identified in the current survey. |
| Waiting period | Yes — a statutory waiting-period rule applies to at least some firearm purchases, subject to exceptions. |
| Assault-style weapon restrictions | Yes — specified assault-style weapons are banned or substantially restricted. |
| Large-capacity magazine restrictions | Yes — state/DC law limits or prohibits specified large-capacity magazines. |
| Privately made / ghost-gun rules | No broad statewide ghost-gun statute identified in the current comparison; federal rules still apply. |
Policy comparisons summarize broad statewide rules and exceptions. They are not a substitute for the current statute, implementing regulations, litigation status, local rules, or a person’s eligibility.
Official District of Columbia gun-law sources
- Official District of Columbia code / legislature source ↗
- ATF State Laws and Published Ordinances — Firearms ↗
- 25 major gun-law court cases
- Can a felon own a gun? Federal + state guide
What is unique about District of Columbia?
D.C. also has registration, licensing, universal background checks, waiting-period rules, extreme-risk orders, assault-weapon and magazine restrictions. The table above also shows how District of Columbia compares on concealed carry, private-sale background checks, purchase licensing, extreme-risk orders, waiting periods, assault-style weapons, magazine capacity, and privately made firearms. Each of those rules has exceptions and definitions that should be verified in the official code.
How to get gun rights back after a felony in District of Columbia
- Get the exact record. Obtain the judgment, charging statute, offense classification, sentence, discharge date, and every later court or clemency order.
- Apply the District of Columbia restoration rule. Determine whether the state uses automatic restoration, a waiting period, court petition, pardon, expungement/set-aside, certificate, or another mechanism.
- Check exclusions. Violent, dangerous, weapons, drug, domestic-violence, sex, repeat, or other listed convictions can follow different rules.
- Run the federal analysis. Determine whether § 922(g)(1), § 922(g)(8), § 922(g)(9), or another federal category still applies.
- Resolve federal relief if necessary. Review the DOJ § 925(c) restoration program when the federal disability remains.
Purchase, carry and possession are different questions
A state may allow permitless carry for qualifying adults while still prohibiting a particular person from possessing firearms. Conversely, a state may require purchase permits, waiting periods, background checks or concealed-carry licenses even after a person’s conviction-based disability has been removed. Restoration does not waive ordinary firearm regulations.
Recent court cases that may affect the analysis
Modern Second Amendment litigation is changing quickly. Bruen changed the constitutional test; Rahimi clarified the historical-analogue method; Range, Williams, Diaz, Duarte, Zherka, Vincent, and Dubois show differing appellate approaches to felony firearm challenges; and the Supreme Court’s 2026 Hemani decision narrowed § 922(g)(3) without deciding § 922(g)(1). See the case library for full entries.