Federal policy ends felony charges for long guns in DC

Federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C. will no longer seek felony charges against people carrying rifles or shotguns in the district, a policy shift approved by the U.S. attorney for the district and guided by guidance from the Justice Department and the Office of the Solicitor General. The change means that simply possessing a registered rifle or shotgun outside a home or business will no longer trigger a federal felony charge, though prosecutors will continue to pursue charges in cases involving violent crime, firearm trafficking, or when a person’s criminal record makes possession illegal. The policy also covers large-capacity magazines but does not apply to handguns.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who has been a vocal advocate for aggressive crime-fighting measures, said the policy aligns with Supreme Court rulings on gun rights while preserving prosecutors’ ability to charge more serious offenses. “Criminal culpability is not determined by the instruments people employ but by the intent and conduct of the actor,” she said in a statement. “Crimes are intentional acts and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent by my office regardless of what instruments of criminality are...