In a significant policy reversal, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., has announced that her office will no longer pursue felony charges against individuals carrying registered rifles or shotgunseven if other charges could still apply. The announcement, issued on August 19, marks a clear shift from D.C.s historically strict enforcement of its firearm laws and reflects the growing influence of recent Supreme Court decisions on local and federal enforcement practices. Previously, D.C. law made it a felony to carry a registered long gun outside of a home or place of business. A first offense could bring up to five years in prison, with repeat violations carrying even harsher penalties. Critics of the law had long argued that such restrictions effectively criminalized lawful firearm owners who had complied with registration requirements but carried their weapons outside of designated areas. Supporters countered that the restrictions were essential to maintaining public safety in the capital, where large gatherings, federal institutions, and high-profile events make the risks of firearm misuse particularly acute. Pirro explained that her decision followed guidance from the Department of Justice and the Office of the Solicitor General. She emphasized that recent Supreme Court rulingsparticularly District of Columbia v. Heller (2008) and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022)made it increasingly clear that categorical bans on carrying legally registered firearms could not withstand constitutional scrutiny. Heller struck down D.C.s handgun ban and affirmed the right of individuals to possess firearms for self-defense in their homes. Bruen went further, requiring governments to demonstrate that modern restrictions on public carry align with historical firearm regulations from the nations founding era. The Solicitor Generals office reportedly advised that continuing to bring felony charges for carrying registered rifles or shotguns would almost certainly invite successful constitutional challenges. Rather than risk losing high-profile cases and setting unfavorable precedents, Pirro said her office would redirect its focus. We will not waste prosecutorial resources pursuing charges that are clearly unconstitutional, she stated. However, she also emphasized that her office remains committed to prosecuting violent crimes, illegal trafficking, and cases involving unregistered or unlawfully possessed firearms. Law enforcement groups have expressed mixed reactions. Some worry that the change will complicate on-the-ground policing by making it harder to distinguish between lawful carriers and those with criminal intent. Officers may encounter more individuals openly carrying long guns, particularly in public spaces, where such displays had previously been rare. Others view the shift as a necessary realignment of D.C.s policies with the constitutional realities shaped by the courts. Pirro sought to reassure the public, noting that enforcement priorities would continue to target individuals who posed genuine threats rather than those who had complied with the law by registering their firearms. Legal scholars point out that the move fits into a broader national trend. Since Bruen, multiple jurisdictions have faced legal challenges to their permitting systems, residency requirements, or restrictions on where firearms may be carried. Some states have doubled down on new regulations, while others have scaled back enforcement in anticipation of inevitable losses in federal court. Washington, D.C., with its uniquely sensitive security environment, represents a particularly visible test case for how far local authorities can push restrictive firearm policies before they collide with constitutional protections. Gun rights advocates have welcomed the announcement as a step toward greater recognition of lawful carry rights in one of the countrys most restrictive jurisdictions. They argue that allowing registered long guns to be carried outside the home restores balance and respects the rights of residents who have already complied with stringent registration laws. Gun control groups, however, have criticized the decision, warning that more firearms in public spaces could undermine safety in the capital and complicate law enforcement responses to emergencies.