On August 20, 2025, a significant shift in gun policy emerged from the heart of the nation’s capital. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, newly confirmed by the Senate and known for her tough-on-crime reputation, instructed federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., to stop seeking felony charges against individuals carrying registered rifles and shotguns in the district. The move, first reported by the Washington Post and confirmed by ABC News and Axios, comes amid a surge of federal efforts to address crime in D.C.—and it’s already stirring debate across the political spectrum.
This policy change didn’t materialize out of thin air. According to ABC News, the Justice Department’s solicitor general, John Sauer, raised concerns that D.C.’s restrictive firearm statutes might violate the Second Amendment, especially in light of recent Supreme Court decisions. Pirro herself acknowledged, “We will continue to seize all illegal and unlicensed firearms, and to vigorously prosecute all crimes connected with them. And we will continue to charge a felon in possession of any of these firearms. Our resolve to prosecute crime is not lessened by defective DC code statutes, as the DOJ works to change those statutes.”
The crux of the issue centers on a D.C. statute that barred people from carrying shotguns or rifles without permits. Under previous law, even registered rifle and shotgun owners risked felony charges—and potentially up to five years in prison—if they carried their firearms outside the home without a permit. But here’s the rub: D.C. doesn’t issue such permits for long guns, effectively making it impossible for lawful owners to transport their weapons legally. That, according to Pirro’s office, flies in the face of Supreme Court precedent.
The legal backdrop is crucial. The 2008 District of Columbia v. Heller decision struck down D.C.’s ban on handgun ownership in the home for self-defense, establishing that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess firearms. The Court expanded these rights in 2022 with New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, ruling that the Constitution protects the right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. The justices also emphasized that gun laws must be “consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.”
Pirro, who spoke at a press conference on August 12, made it clear that her office’s hands aren’t tied when it comes to prosecuting actual crimes. “Nothing in this memo from the Department of Justice and the Office of Solicitor General precludes the United States Attorney’s Office from charging a felon with the possession of a firearm, which includes a rifle, shotgun, and attendant large capacity magazine pursuant to DC Code 22-4503,” she told the Washington Post. “What it does preclude is a separate charge of possession of a registered rifle or shotgun.”
She doubled down on her commitment to public safety, telling The Post, “Criminal culpability is not determined by the instruments people employ but by the intent and conduct of the actor. Crimes are intentional acts and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent by my office regardless of what instruments of criminality are used. My job is to keep this city, its citizens, its businesses, and its visitors safe from harm and I will do that to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to Axios, Pirro’s new memo only affects the specific charge of possessing a registered rifle or shotgun. Charges for felons in possession of firearms, illegal or unregistered firearms, and violent crimes involving guns remain firmly in place. “If anyone is carrying a weapon illegally, they will absolutely be charged,” Pirro emphasized.
The timing of this policy shift is notable. It coincides with an escalation of federal law enforcement efforts in D.C., as the Trump administration has ramped up resources to combat rising crime rates in the city. Pirro’s office has publicly touted the number of illegal firearms seized in recent months, signaling that the fight against gun violence remains a top priority—even as the legal landscape shifts.
For D.C. residents, the change is both technical and tangible. Previously, being caught with a registered long gun outside the home could mean a felony charge, a steep fine, and up to five years behind bars. Now, so long as the firearm is registered and the carrier is not otherwise prohibited (such as being a convicted felon), prosecutors will no longer pursue the harshest penalties for mere possession. That said, the city’s strict prohibitions on open carry and its requirement for concealed-carry permits (which still don’t apply to long guns) remain on the books, at least for now.
The policy shift has already prompted a range of reactions. Gun rights advocates see it as a necessary correction, aligning local law with constitutional precedent. They point to the Supreme Court’s clear guidance in Heller and Bruen that broad bans on carrying firearms cannot stand. Meanwhile, some D.C. officials and gun-control proponents worry that loosening restrictions could make it harder to keep dangerous weapons off the streets, especially in a city that has struggled with gun violence.
Pirro, who previously served as a judge and Westchester County district attorney in New York—and, perhaps more famously, as a Fox News host—has long been associated with a law-and-order approach. Her statement that “our resolve to prosecute crime is not lessened by defective DC code statutes” signals that, for her, the fight against violent crime and illegal guns is undiminished, even as the legal tools shift.
It’s worth noting that the new guidance doesn’t give carte blanche to anyone with a gun. Unregistered shotguns and rifles remain illegal, and the local attorney general will continue to handle those cases. Prosecutors are also expected to continue charging people illegally possessing handguns, as well as those involved in firearms trafficking or violent crimes, according to reporting by the Washington Post and Axios.
For now, the Justice Department is working to revise the D.C. statutes to bring them into compliance with Supreme Court rulings. Until that process is complete, Pirro’s office will operate under the new guidance, focusing its prosecutorial firepower on those who use firearms to commit crimes, rather than on technical violations by registered gun owners.
As the debate over gun rights and public safety continues to play out in the courts and on the streets of Washington, D.C., Pirro’s decision marks a pivotal moment—one that will likely be watched closely by lawmakers, advocates, and residents alike. The city’s approach to gun possession has changed, but the larger battle over how best to balance constitutional rights with community safety is far from settled.
