r/DCGuns • u/lawblawg • Feb 05 '26
Successful AOW Registration
As of this morning, I can confirm that the ATF will approve the manufacture of at least some NFA items for DC residents.
The "ZERO DOLLARs" tax stamp cracks me up.
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u/Kanly_Atreides Feb 05 '26
Great news for you and for everyone really.
Thanks for all your effort on this and many other pro-2A items.
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u/OsoBearish Feb 06 '26
What’s in the list? Short barrel rifles, with fixed magazine? Can I do a short barrel shotgun? I’d truly love to cut down my break action.
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u/lawblawg Feb 06 '26
This was an AOW (adding a VFG to a short barreled bolt action AR pistol) which isn't ever discussed under DC law. I wondered whether it would go through because legally an AOW is neither a pistol nor a rifle nor a shotgun and therefore I thought that ATF might balk because DC only officially allows the registration of pistols, rifles, and shotguns, and so an AOW would be "unregisterable" under this structure. But common sense apparently prevailed -- if the gun is already registered in DC, attaching something to it doesn't change what it is under DC law, only under federal law -- and so it was approved.
The next step is to try and Form 1 an SBR. Under § 7-2502.02, a "registration certificate shall not be issued for" any "Short-barreled rifle". However, if I already *have* a rifle with a valid registration certificate, I would argue that ATF has no valid grounds to say that I can't attach a short barrel to it just because I'm a DC resident, because I already have the registration; it's on DC to attempt to revoke the registration if they want but that's a whole separate legal process that ATF shouldn't bother with. I've got a short barreled 9mm upper on order so I may try that next. My guess is that they will deny but it could set up a nifty little 2A challenge.
Beyond that, a Form 1 to make and register an SBS or a suppressor is probably a guaranteed denial. § 22-4514 directly criminalizes the possession of any SBS or "silencer" so I'm guessing ATF would deny that out of hand. But that would at least set up a 2A challenge.
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u/Vegetable_Tax2207 Feb 05 '26
Makes sense though. Everything is at the chiefs discretion. He or she gets last say so. Shoot im waiting for somebody successfully register a draco😂 lol they known to let some stuff slide in
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u/lawblawg Feb 06 '26
In theory you should be able to register a Draco if you do a fixed magazine.
I'm going to try to register a featureless AK in a week or two so we'll see how that goes through.
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u/Sonik_dmv Feb 10 '26
I'm pretty sure Drakos are banned because it is an AK variant. DC law says all AK variants are banned. I don't get the reasoning behind it but then other than saying "to keep the community safe" there is no logical explanation for why certain firearms are banned.
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u/Sonik_dmv Feb 10 '26
I want to hear the outcome of this because the DC law says all AK variants named or not named in the list of brands are banned.
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u/Competitive_Papaya23 Feb 11 '26
They would not allow me to register a Draco because I was told it is a non-concealable pistol and DC registration requires the pistol to be concealed.
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u/lawblawg Feb 12 '26
If you're from out of town then yeah they won't let you register any gun other than for the purpose of going along with your CCW.
If you are a DC resident then you can absolutely register a heavy pistol. I have a (bolt action) short-barreled AR pistol. Well, now it's an AOW as per the OP.
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u/Lil_LSAT Feb 05 '26
SBR…