Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., has ignited fury among gun rights advocates and pro-Second Amendment MAGA figures after warning that anyone entering the district with a firearm—even if legally licensed elsewhere—could face jail time. Speaking on Fox News, Pirro declared: “You bring a gun into the District, you mark my words, you're going to jail. 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.”
The comments come amid a broader shift in tone from the Trump administration on gun control following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, a licensed concealed carrier, by immigration enforcement agents in Minnesota. President Donald Trump previously criticised Pretti for carrying a gun, saying: “You can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns.” That stance drew backlash from pro-gun groups, with some threatening to sit out the midterm elections.
Pirro attributed a drop in homicides in Washington to aggressive firearm seizures, boasting of nearly 1,000 guns taken off the streets. She emphasised that the policy applies to all gun owners, not just criminals. “It’s about taking guns off the street,” she said, adding that lawful owners from other states would not be exempt.
Republican lawmakers and right-wing media figures swiftly condemned Pirro’s remarks. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) noted that D.C. has been “shall issue” since 2017, allowing non-residents to obtain permits. Rep. Greg Stuebe (R-FL) claimed he brings his gun into the district weekly with a licence. The National Association for Gun Rights called the threat “unacceptable and intolerable,” urging a national “Real Constitutional Carry” law.
While D.C. does not honour out-of-state concealed carry permits, non-residents can apply for a licence if they hold a permit from another state. All firearms must also be registered with the city’s police department. Pirro’s warning has deepened divisions within the conservative base over gun rights, with some accusing the administration of betraying Second Amendment principles.
