Legal Self Defense Weapons in Washington DC
Regardless if you are walking to your car, going for a jog or staying at home alone, your personal safety is at least should be a priority. I have no doubt you have seen an extensive list of safety rules that you are always supposed to be following, but even following the rules can not protect you 100% of the time. Possessing or having a legal weapon will put you at ease and will provide a sense of protection.
Before we further discuss what legal self-defense weapon you can possess, let’s have a quick glance of the Washington DCs crime rate from 2018-2019.
| Offense | 2018 | 2019 | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 160 | 166 | 4% |
| Robbery | 2,029 | 2,241 | 10% |
| Theft (Other) | 14,247 | 15,588 | 9% |
Source: Metropolitan Police Department of DC.
These Self-Defense Weapons are Legal in Washington DC
- Some Firearms
- Tactical Pens
- Knives
- Stun Guns
- Pepper Spray
Is it legal to have a Firearm in Washington DC?
Washington DC firearms have to be put in records, and this operation functions as a permit to purchase. A person cannot possess considerations without a valid registration of a firearm.
Requirements of the state concealed carry law in force, are described below:
- Be a suitable person to be permitted who resides within the District of Columbia
- The applicant should be least 21 years of age
- Does not currently suffer from a mental illness or condition that creates a substantial risk that he or she is a danger to himself or herself or others
- Meets all of the requirements for a person registering a firearm
An individual applying for a concealed carry permit in DC must certify that he or she has completed at least two hours of range training, conducted by an instructor certified by the state Chief, that includes live firing exercises. The applicant must also complete a firearms training course certified by the state Chief, which includes at least 16 hours of training
Things to remember:
- The District of Columbia does not allow constitutional carry.
- The District of Columbia does not permit open carry “A licensee shall carry any pistol in a manner that it is entirely hidden from view of the public when carried on or about a person, or when in a vehicle in such a way as it is entirely hidden from view of the public.” D.C Code 24*2344.1
- District of Columbia requires a permit to carry a concealed firearm under the state jurisdiction
- A concealed weapons permit does not allow you to carry weapons other than handguns.
Tactical Pens are legal in Washington DC
Tactical pens are another course of action that could serve as an individual’s self-defense. While they write like any other pen, they are also designed to do a couple of other things including using this as a self-defense weapon.
They are equipped with glass-breaking tips, LED(light-emitting diode) lights, and impact edges that work to discourage attackers. Tactical pens do damage when they are used as a weapon of self-defense. At the same time, they are not designed to kill anyone, so they are non-lethal.
The glass-breaking tips are also extremely effective in situations where a person needs to escape a vehicle. Additionally, if someone sees you, say, signing a bar tab with a tactical pen, they’ll probably choose not to mug you outside the establishment. Here’s a coupon to get the Strike Pen free.
Knives are legal to own in The District DC
Knives that are released with the pressing of a button are illegal in the District of Columbia. Closely any knife that has brass knuckle handles, like push knives and trench knives, are also prohibited. Balisong or butterfly knives are still legal, since they do not employ a spring or gravity to open. Federal courts have not banned butterfly knives and are legal in the capital area.
District of Columbia’s Specific Prohibitions on Switchblades – § 22-4514
“(a) No person shall within the District of Columbia possess any machine gun, sawed-off shotgun, bump stock, knuckles, or any instrument or weapon of the kind commonly known as a blackjack, slungshot, sand club, sandbag, switchblade knife, nor any instrument, attachment, or appliance for causing the firing of any firearm to be silent or intended to lessen or muffle the noise of the firing of any firearms; provided, however, that machine guns, or sawed-off shotgun, bump stock, knuckles, and blackjacks may be possessed by the members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps of the United States, the National Guard, or Organized Reserves when on duty, the Post Office Department or its employees when on duty, marshals, sheriffs, prison or jail wardens, or their deputies, policemen, or other duly-appointed law enforcement officers, including any designated civilian employee of the Metropolitan Police Department, or officers or employees of the United States duly authorized to carry such weapons, banking institutions, public carriers who are engaged in the business of transporting mail, money, securities, or other valuables, wholesale dealers and retail dealers licensed under 22-4510
(b) No person shall within the District of Columbia possess, with intent to use unlawfully against another, an imitation pistol, or a dagger, dirk, razor, stiletto, or knife with a blade longer than 3 inches, or other dangerous weapon.
(c) Whoever violates this section shall be punished as provided in 22-4515 unless the violation occurs after such person has been convicted in the District of Columbia of a violation of this section, or of a felony, either in the District of Columbia or in another jurisdiction, in which case such person shall be imprisoned for not more than 10 years.
(d) In addition to any other penalty provided under this section, a person may be fined an amount not more than the amount set forth in 22-3571.01”
Washington DC: Stun Guns
It is legal to own a taser or stun gun in the District of Columbia. A person 18 years or older may possess a stun gun in the District of Columbia. No one other than a law enforcement officer is allowed to possess a stun gun in a building or office occupied by the DC government and etc “§ 7–2502.15. Possession of stun guns.”
Is Pepper Spray legal in Washington DC?
It is legal to buy or use pepper spray or chemical spray in the District of Columbia. A person may use a self-defense spray only as reasonable force to defend themselves or their property. However, it must be propelled from an aerosol container and there are restrictions on the chemical mixtures, labeling, and dating. No person shall possess a self-defense spray which is of a type other than that specified. (§ 7–2502.13. Possession of self-defense sprays)
Personal Alarms
When you think of a self-defense weapon an alarm may not be the first thing that comes to mind but believe me a personal alarm is one of the best self-defense weapons that you can have! This isn’t an ordinary alarm. A personal alarm is more produces a sound of more than 100 decibels. That’s louder than a jackhammer!
Trust me when I say it’s shrill and loud. You wouldn’t want this alarm sounding in your ear. Also, causing a scene by making a lot of noise is a great tool to defend yourself against any surprise attack whether it be a mugger or purse snatcher. Read about an old woman whose life was saved by a personal alarm.