In a move that has left both supporters and critics scratching their heads, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced this week that federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., will no longer pursue felony charges against individuals caught with rifles or shotguns in the nation’s capital—unless those weapons are used in violent crimes or possessed by individuals with criminal records. The policy shift, first reported by The Washington Post and confirmed by Fox News, comes just months after Pirro and President Donald Trump made aggressive promises to clamp down on crime in D.C., painting the city as a place where residents fear for their safety.
This change, effective as of August 20, 2025, marks a dramatic departure from the administration’s earlier hardline stance. President Trump has repeatedly likened the District to war-torn Baghdad, claiming that people "don’t even feel safe walking to a restaurant or newspaper stand"—though, as some have noted, newspaper stands are already a rare sight in the city these days. Pirro herself echoed these concerns at a recent press conference, saying, “I see too much violent crime being committed by young punks who think that they can get together in gangs and crews and beat the hell out of you or anyone else.… They know that we can’t touch them. Why? Because the laws are weak.”
Yet, despite this tough rhetoric, Pirro’s new directive tells a different story. According to the memo obtained by The Washington Post, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will no longer charge possession of a registered rifle or shotgun as a separate felony offense. However, the office will still pursue charges against felons found with firearms, including rifles, shotguns, and large-capacity magazines, under D.C. Code 22-4503. "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," Pirro wrote. "What it does preclude is a separate charge of possession of a registered rifle or shotgun."
The new policy does not extend to handguns, which remain subject to existing D.C. laws. It also covers large-capacity magazines, maintaining a focus on limiting the most dangerous weaponry. Local officials, meanwhile, retain the authority to prosecute individuals for illegally possessing unregistered rifles and shotguns, ensuring that some level of oversight remains in place.
Pirro’s justification for the change is rooted in recent legal developments. In her statement, she pointed to guidance from the Justice Department and the Office of Solicitor General, as well as two critical Supreme Court rulings. The first, a 2022 decision, struck down a New York law and affirmed that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. The second, from 2008, blocked D.C.’s ban on handguns in the home. Pirro argued that D.C.’s blanket ban on shotguns and rifles constitutes a "liberal overreach that violates the constitution," aligning her office’s new policy with the highest court’s interpretation of the Second Amendment.
“We will continue to seize all illegal and unlicensed firearms, and to vigorously prosecute all crimes connected with them,” Pirro said in her statement to Fox News, adding that she and President Trump "are committed to prosecuting gun crime." The policy, she emphasized, is not a free pass for those who would use firearms to commit violence or for prohibited individuals to arm themselves. Instead, it reflects a recalibration of enforcement priorities in light of recent court decisions.
The timing of this shift is notable. It comes amid President Trump’s federal takeover of crime enforcement in D.C., a move that has seen hundreds of federal agents and National Guard troops deployed to city streets. The White House reported that 76 firearms have been seized since the federal crackdown began earlier this month, while The Washington Post noted that 68 guns had been confiscated as of August 19. Firearm seizure has been a central tactic in the administration’s efforts to restore order, making the relaxation of certain gun possession charges all the more surprising to many observers.
Pirro, a former Fox News host who took the helm as U.S. Attorney for D.C. in May, has not been shy about criticizing local officials’ approaches to crime. Since her appointment, she has called for reforms of what she describes as "progressive policies" that, in her view, have failed to keep the public safe. Her supporters argue that the new policy is a necessary response to Supreme Court rulings that have reshaped the legal landscape around gun rights. They see it as a principled stand for constitutional freedoms, even if it means rethinking longstanding local restrictions.
Opponents, on the other hand, worry that loosening restrictions on rifles and shotguns could make D.C. less safe, not more. They question how making it easier to carry large, powerful guns squares with the administration’s stated goal of reducing crime. As The Washington Post put it, “How exactly does making it easier to carry large, powerful guns in the nation’s capital make people safer and decrease crime, even if they’re registered legally?” For many, the answer remains elusive.
Despite the controversy, one fact stands out: violent crime in D.C. has actually decreased in recent years. According to data from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, violent crime dropped by 35% from 2023 to 2024, with 3,388 incidents reported last year compared to 5,215 the year before. Whether this trend will continue in the wake of the new policy remains to be seen, and both supporters and critics will no doubt be watching closely.
For now, the debate over gun policy in the nation’s capital is far from settled. Pirro’s decision has injected fresh uncertainty into an already charged atmosphere, raising questions about the balance between public safety and constitutional rights. As D.C. residents navigate these changes, the city’s future—and the safety of its streets—hangs in the balance.
