The District of Columbia requires that no person store or keep a firearm on any premises under his or her control if he or she knows or reasonably should know that a minor (person under age 18)¹ is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the parent or guardian of the minor, unless such person: 1) keeps the firearm in a securely locked box, secured container, or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure; or 2) carries the firearm on the person or within such close proximity that he or she can readily retrieve and use it as if he or she carried it on the person.² A person who violates this requirement is liable for criminally negligent storage of a firearm and subject to a fine of up to $1,000, imprisonment for up to 180 days, or both punishments.³ If a person violates this requirement and the minor causes injury or death to himself, herself or another person, the criminally negligent registrant shall be subject to a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to five years, or both punishments.⁴

These prohibitions will not apply if the minor obtains the firearm as a result of an unlawful entry or burglary to any premises by any person.⁵

The District does not require a locking device to accompany the sale of a firearm, although federal law applies.

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1. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.02(d).[↩]
2. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.02(b).[↩]
3. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.02(c)(1).[↩]
4. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.02(c)(2).[↩]
5. D.C. Code Ann. § 7-2507.02(c)(3).[↩]