Citation(s) from the GunPolicy.org literature library
Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 2024 ‘Location Restrictions in Washington DC.’ Guns in Public. San Francisco, CA: Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. 19 April
Relevant contents
[Editor's note: The Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence regularly updates its webpages with new data as US gun regulation evolves state by state. For the most up-to-date information on US gun laws, please refer to the Giffords URL below]
Other Location Restrictions in the District of Columbia
The District of Columbia explicitly prohibits a person from illegally possessing a gun within a gun free zone… since the District prohibits the open or concealed carrying of guns, they are effectively banned in gun free zones. A "gun free zone" is defined as any area within 1,000 feet of a 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, or an event sponsored by any of these entities.'
The District also prohibits a person from carrying or having readily accessible a firearm upon the U.S. Capitol Grounds or within any of the Capitol Buildings. "Capitol Buildings" are the U.S. Capitol, the Senate and House Office Buildings and garages, the Capitol Power Plant, all subways and enclosed passages connecting two or more of such structures, and the real property underlying and enclosed by any such structure.
In addition, the District prohibits firearms and ammunition in penal institutions.
Firearms are not allowed in public buildings and grounds owned and leased by the District of Columbia Government and under the direct control of the Office of Property Management. The District also prohibits possession of any firearm or ammunition in low-rent public housing.
The District may prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on its property and any property under its control. The District also allows private persons or entities owning property in the District to prohibit or restrict gun possession on their property.
Notwithstanding any other District law, a person holding a valid registration certificate for a firearm may carry that firearm:
- Within the registrant's home;
- While it is being used for lawful recreational purposes;
- While it is kept at the registrant's place of business; or
- While it is being transported for a lawful purpose as expressly authorized by District or federal statute and in accordance with the requirements of that statute.
The District has no statutes specifically prohibiting firearms in the following places, although administrative regulations may apply:
- Hospitals;
- Most parks and preserves;
- Bars or restaurants where alcohol is served;
- Sports arenas;
- Gambling facilities; or
- Polling places…