For the first time in the United States, a citizen who has legally registered a gun will be required to submit for a renewal in order to stay in good standing. The new law requires Washington D.C. residents who have registered a firearm in the past several decades to pay a fee and renew his or her license. The New Law
Beginning January 2, any D.C. resident who has registered a firearm since 1976 must go to police headquarters to pay a $48 fee. The person must also be both photographed and fingerprinted. Police are sending out notices, giving owners a three-month window based on his or her birthdates. Renewing the registration will be the same no matter how many guns a person owns.
Anyone who has not gone through this process within three months after a set time frame will have their registration revoked and may face charges of possession of an unregistered firearm. That charge is a felony and a person found guilty of it may face a $1,000 fine in addition to a year in jail. The Washington Times reported an estimated 30,000 guns were registered in the city before 2011.
If you miss your window and are concerned about keeping your legal registration in good standing or have questions about what happens if you are unable to re-register your firearms, you may want to speak with an experienced lawyer who can help you.