WomensLaw serves and supports all survivors, no matter their sex or gender.

Legal Information: District of Columbia

State Gun Laws

Updated: 
October 30, 2023

I have a temporary (ex parte) protection order against the abuser. Can his/her gun be taken away?

Washington, D.C. law does not prohibit an abuser who has a temporary protection order against him/her from possessing a firearm. However, you may be able to request in your petition for a temporary protection order that the judge prohibit the abuser from possessing a gun while the order is in effect since there is a section where the petitioner can request “additional protections.” It may be helpful if you list the known firearms that s/he has (or the possible access to firearms) and specifically request in your paperwork that the abuser be prohibited from possessing firearms while your temporary order is in effect.

I have a civil protection order against the abuser. Can s/he keep a gun or buy a new gun?

Under Washington, D.C. law, it is illegal for a person to have a gun if s/he is subject to a civil protection order that:

  • was issued after a hearing that the respondent received actual notice of, and at which the respondent had an opportunity to participate; or remained in effect after the respondent failed to appear for a hearing that s/he was notified of;
  • restrains the respondent from assaulting, harassing, stalking, or threatening the petitioner or any other person named in the order; or requires the person to stay away from, or have no contact with, any other person or a location; and
  • requires the respondent to give up possession of any firearms.1

Also, under Washington, D.C. law, a person has to first apply for a registration certificate before legally owning a firearm. Anyone who had a final civil protection order against him/her in any state within the past five years or someone who currently has a final civil protection order or an ex parte or final extreme risk protection order against him/her should be denied the registration certificate. Therefore, the person cannot legally possess a firearm.2

Also, federal laws, which apply to all states, restrict an abuser’s right to have a gun if you have a final protection order against him/her that meets certain requirements even if the judge does not specifically include on the order that s/he cannot have a gun. Go to the Federal Gun Laws page to get more information.

1 DC Code § 22-4503(a)
2 DC Code § 7-2502.03(a)

Is there anything I can do to make it more likely that the abuser's gun is taken away when I get a protection order?

In Washington, D.C., the firearm ban should automatically be written on your civil protection order, informing the abuser that s/he cannot possess, purchase, receive or sell any firearm or ammunition.

You may also want to ask the judge to specifically write in the terms of the order that the abuser must give up his/her firearms. It also may be helpful if the judge:

  • requires the abuser to give his/her guns to the police, or requires the police to go to the abuser’s house and get them;
  • makes it clear to both you and the abuser how long the guns will be kept away from the abuser;
  • orders that the police notify you when the guns are returned to the abuser.