What Are the Assault Weapon Laws in District of Columbia?
Woody's answers are based on published federal and state law. Not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney for your specific situation.
DC has extremely restrictive assault weapon laws that ban most semi-automatic rifles and handguns with detachable magazines, plus magazines over 10 rounds. Very few firearms can be legally owned.
What This Means for You
The District of Columbia maintains some of the most restrictive firearm laws in the nation, making most common rifle and handgun builds illegal. These laws severely limit what components and configurations you can legally possess, even for registered firearms. Understanding DC's definitions is crucial since violating these statutes carries serious federal consequences.
The Detail
DC's assault weapon ban prohibits semi-automatic rifles that can accept detachable magazines, which eliminates most modern rifle platforms. The law also bans semi-automatic handguns with detachable magazines that hold more than 12 rounds, though you're still limited to possessing magazines with 10 rounds or fewer. This creates a complex situation where certain handguns might be legal but you cannot legally possess standard capacity magazines for them.
The definition extends beyond just rifles and includes specific features that make firearms illegal. Semi-automatic shotguns with certain features like folding stocks or detachable magazines fall under the ban. Additionally, any firearm that DC considers substantially identical to banned models is also prohibited, giving authorities broad discretion in enforcement.
Magazine restrictions are enforced separately from the assault weapon ban, making it illegal to possess, transfer, or manufacture magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. This applies to all firearms, not just those that might otherwise be legal under the assault weapon provisions. The law includes grandfather provisions for some items owned before certain dates, but proving legal ownership can be complex.
Registration requirements in DC are extensive and must be renewed regularly. Even if you somehow have a legal firearm under these restrictions, you must navigate the registration process and maintain compliance with storage, transport, and carry laws that are equally restrictive.
Build Impact
These laws effectively prohibit building most common rifle configurations in DC, including AR-15s, AK-pattern rifles, and similar platforms. Any build project would need to comply with both the assault weapon definitions and magazine capacity limits, severely restricting your options.