D.C. Officials Refuse Transparency on Gun Possession Arrests as Prosecutors Promise Crackdowns

Local and federal authorities in Washington, D.C. are refusing to disclose how aggressively they are enforcing the city’s notoriously strict gun possession laws—even after public promises of zero tolerance from federal prosecutors. Neither the Metropolitan Police Department nor the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia will say how many people they have arrested or prosecuted for standalone gun possession—cases where the only alleged crime is a permitting or registration violation.

The silence follows comments by Jeanine Pirro, who warned on national television that her office would aggressively pursue anyone who brings a firearm into the District. “You bring a gun into the District, you mark my words, you’re going to jail,” Pirro said. “I don’t care if you have a license in another district, and I don’t care if you’re a law-abiding gun owner somewhere else.”

That statement immediately set off alarms among gun-rights advocates—and even among Republicans—who pointed out that non-resident carry permits are legal in Washington, D.C., and that constitutional rights do not vanish at city limits.

When pressed for numbers, D.C. authorities declined to cooperate. “Isolating reports for a ‘standalone’ charge would require a FOIA request,” MPD spokesperson Lee Lepe told The Reload, adding that the data was “not readily available.”

This lack of transparency is not new. Last summer, MPD also refused to release data on gun seizures during a high-profile federal takeover of city policing—and later denied a formal FOIA request for that information. The refusal to disclose data raises serious questions about how often authorities are using D.C.’s gun laws to seize firearms from people who are not accused of violence, but merely paperwork violations.

Gun-rights groups quickly condemned Pirro’s remarks. “Shall not be infringed. Unless you cross into D.C.?” the Gun Owners of America posted. “Why are non-violent, law-abiding permit holders being treated like criminals?” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also weighed in.

“Second Amendment rights are not extinguished just because an American visits D.C.,” DeSantis said. “Concealed carriers are among the most law-abiding citizens in the nation and should not be targeted by law enforcement.” Pirro later attempted to soften her remarks, claiming she was referring only to individuals violating D.C. law. That explanation did little to calm critics—particularly given the city’s history of aggressively enforcing complex and restrictive gun regulations. “You also have a duty not to enforce unconstitutional infringements on our Second Amendment rights,” GOA lobbyist Aidan Johnston responded.

The last meaningful data available came from MPD’s now-discontinued weekly gun recovery reports. In one report released on August 13 during the early days of the federal takeover, MPD disclosed that out of 20 firearms seized over four days:

• Seven were tied solely to simple possession or carry offenses

  
  

• Four involved possession combined with marijuana charges

  
  

That report was the last of its kind. MPD said at the time it was “improving” the reporting process and would resume publication in a few weeks. Months later, officials are still offering the same explanation—without results.

What’s happening in Washington, D.C. is a cautionary tale—and Minnesota gun owners should be paying close attention. Current Minnesota DFL leadership has openly pushed for expanded gun control, increased enforcement authority, and stricter penalties for technical violations. If given the opportunity, the same type of enforcement-first, transparency-last approach seen in D.C. could easily take hold here.

History shows that once officials begin targeting law-abiding gun owners under the guise of “public safety,” the scope only widens.

At 2 If By Sea Tactical, we believe sunlight is the best disinfectant—especially when it comes to government enforcement of constitutional rights. As your source for all things Second Amendment and proudly serving Southern Minnesota, we track these developments so gun owners aren’t blindsided by policy shifts, selective enforcement, or political doublespeak. Because the right to keep and bear arms doesn’t depend on ZIP codes—and it certainly shouldn’t depend on whether the government feels like releasing the data. Stay informed. Stay engaged. And never assume “it can’t happen here.”

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