Federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., have decided to stop pursuing felony charges for individuals caught with rifles or shotguns in the capital, as announced by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro.
This adjustment indicates that prosecutors will not charge individuals under the D.C. statute that previously prohibited carrying rifles or shotguns in the district, with exceptions made only for those with relevant permits.
According to the revised policy, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will still file charges if someone is accused of using a rifle or shotgun in a violent crime or if they have a criminal record that bars them from owning a firearm. While the policy includes large-capacity magazines, it does not cover handguns.
Jeanine Pirro has been a staunch critic of local officials’ efforts to tackle crime in D.C. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“We will persist in confiscating all illegal and unlicensed firearms and rigorously prosecuting any associated criminal activity,” Pirro stated, emphasizing her and Trump’s commitment to tackling gun-related crimes.
Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. attorney’s office for additional comment.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, violent crime in D.C. saw a 35% decline from 2023 to 2024. In their December announcement, they reported 3,388 incidents last year as compared to 5,215 incidents the previous year.
