Washington DC question....LEOSA.

[Dagga Boy]

Does anyone know if there is an LE/LEOSA exemption for magazine capacity in Washington DC?

[LtDave]

I don’t think so. I took 10 rounders a couple years ago. They also limited you to 1 spare mag, 20 rounds total on your person.

[blues]

I don’t think so. I took 10 rounders a couple years ago. They also limited you to 1 spare mag, 20 rounds total on your person.

Dave is right afaik but we have some folks in the D.C. area who may know if anything has changed.

If there is no exemption you are limited to only enough ammo to load the firearm twice, not to exceed a total of 20 rounds.

[BN]

I was there a couple of years ago. I carried a G-26 with 11 rounds and a spare mag with 9 rounds. I was treated with respect everywhere I had to declare, and nobody asked what I had, just asked if I was armed.

[Dagga Boy]

Great. Have my 10 rounders ready for DC, and a J frame and normal mags for Virginia.

[TheNewbie]

DC has a 20 round on your person limit?

Dagga Boy, would this be a good place for your new Colt?

[WobblyPossum]

This is good stuff to know. I can guarantee that not loading both my G26 mags fully would give me Forrest Whittaker eye but the law is the law. I really hope HR 6105 becomes law so this nonsense can end.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LtDave]

I was there a couple of years ago. I carried a G-26 with 11 rounds and a spare mag with 9 rounds. I was treated with respect everywhere I had to declare, and nobody asked what I had, just asked if I was armed.

Same here. I went with an HK USPc in .40 with 10 rounders. I found that each Smithsonian museum had slightly different policies at the metal detectors.

[Dagga Boy]

DC has a 20 round on your person limit?

Dagga Boy, would this be a good place for your new Colt?

Yes, but I am flying and teaching so I am limited in what I am taking. I was just at my vacation home and carried the heck out of it. If I was just going to DC or NY, the Colt would be a go to. Only doing a half day in DC.

[Sammy1]

I don't know but I will tell you that I was treated great by Federal LEOs when I was down there on vacation. The only grief I got was by an Alexandria cop who lectured me about not having a gun on me when I visited the NRA museum. Great guys!

[LittleLebowski]

Where are you staying? Text or PM me. I’ll try to get a definitive answer for your important question tomorrow, just got back from Wyoming.

[LittleLebowski]

I don't know but I will tell you that I was treated great by Federal LEOs when I was down there on vacation. The only grief I got was by an Alexandria cop who lectured me about not having a gun on me when I visited the NRA museum. Great guys!

Lecture needed :D

[BN]

I found that each Smithsonian museum had slightly different policies at the metal detectors.

I found that as well. I thought it was strange.

[cathellsk]

I found that as well. I thought it was strange.

Can you elaborate? Would like to go back to D.C. for the first time since I was in middle school.

[LtDave]

One had a supervisor come over to chat with you, another had you sign in a book, and the other one just waived you past the metal detector after you id’d yourself.

[jnc36rcpd]

One, you can't carry a gun at the NRA Museum? I've never noticed signs nor seen screening.
Second, are you sure about jurisdiction? I believe the NRA is in unincorporated Fairfax County, miles from the City of Alexandria.
Lastly, most cops in this area will treat you right if you're not acting the fool. This is probably especially true for MPD, U.S. Park, and other agencies operating in the District where they deal with tons of out-of-jurisdiction LEO's. The risk is that you might have to shoot someone whom the Post or a prosecutor decides is the wrong race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, age or whatever.The standard magazine might well be brought up as an issue regardless of how immaterial it is to the actual facts.

[BN]

Can you elaborate? Would like to go back to D.C. for the first time since I was in middle school.

What LtDave said. I couldn't carry in the Reagan building because it's Federal. We were going in to eat. I had my wife bring me out a sammich and I waited outside. :)

[lwt16]

While I have no plans to ever return to D.C. as an adult (went there many times as a child when we lived in Williamsburg, VA), I guess I'd be toting my Glock 30S to be in compliance with said silly law.

If I'm reduced to 10 and 10 in a reload, I want 230 grain pills.

But that's just me. I'm faster from concealment on the draw stroke with the 30S than my 26.3. More grip to grab.

Regards.

[Dagga Boy]

And weirdly.....looks like California, of all places, just passsed a state law exempting retirees from magazine restrictions.

[Sammy1]

We were taking an M9 armorer course together at NRA and we got talking about DC. I didn't bring my firearm to the class and he lectured me about carrying in the area and that no one would bother me sight seeing around the capital. He was correct, Supreme Court building and everywhere else was fine, just had me lock it up on the way in and retrieve it on the way out. Good people.

[jnc36rcpd]

That would make sense how an Alexandria officer found his way to the NRA. Supreme Court Police are a good bunch. Our former chief was briefly chief there around 9-11 and we ran a bunch of their people through active shooter training when I was at the Academy.

[tanner]

National Archives Museum will not let you carry inside. In the Air & Space Museum it was fine.

All my interactions with DC cops have been positive. Never questioned about what I was carrying or how many bullets.

[AMC]

Was waiting in line before opening at the National Archives with the family a few years ago. One of their cops (Smithsonian Police I believe?) was walking the line, asking if any active duty military or Law enforcement were in the line. I discreetly got her attention ID'd myself. She smiled and asked if I was armed. I told her no (I know! I know! Don't look at me!!!), and she said, "Okay. Makes it easier!" Told us to follow her and led us past the line to a separate door...where we entered like VIPs. They had lockers there for LEOs who needed to check them. Classy bunch. Very friendly, in my experience. But you can't carry inside.

[LtDave]

And weirdly.....looks like California, of all places, just passsed a state law exempting retirees from magazine restrictions.

They did that a year or so ago. They also just allowed the same exemption for retired level 1 reserves. Pretty sure it only applies to CA retired guys/gals. Out of state folks under Leosa, unless you are a retired fed, not so much. PC 32406.

[Rex G]

Dave is right afaik but we have some folks in the D.C. area who may know if anything has changed.

If there is no exemption you are limited to only enough ammo to load the firearm twice, not to exceed a total of 20 rounds.

Interesting. This seems to mean a revolver guy/gal would be limited to less than twenty. I had thought that a revolver made the most sense as the one ideal LEOSA travel handgun, but perhaps a ten-round-mag auto becomes that ideal, if DC is on the itinerary. Hmm. OK, I wonder if I am limited to one handgun? ;) (IIRC, LEOSA says “a handgun...”)

NoVA-MA-PA-DE-DC area is on our short-term to-do list.

[blues]

Interesting. This seems to mean a revolver guy/gal would be limited to less than twenty. I had thought that a revolver made the most sense as the one ideal LEOSA travel handgun, but perhaps a ten-round-mag auto becomes that ideal, if DC is on the itinerary. Hmm. OK, I wonder if I am limited to one handgun? ;) (IIRC, LEOSA says “a handgun...”)

NoVA-MA-PA-DE-DC area is on our short-term to-do list.

Rex, pretty sure it's one handgun. If you have a six shooter, you'd be limited to 12 rounds. I think a Glock 26 is pretty much ideal for travel to restricted states under LEOSA. (Just my somewhat biased opinion.)

[Rex G]

Rex, pretty sure it's one handgun. If you have a six shooter, you'd be limited to 12 rounds. I think a Glock 26 is pretty much ideal for travel to restricted states under LEOSA. (Just my somewhat biased opinion.)

Yes, though I sold my G26, as it was a hands-gun, a.k.a. two-hand-gun, and my ailing wrist hurt whether it was the weapon hand or support hand.

My S&W 327 PC snub-gun has an eight-round cylinder. Not far short of ten. I can buy, and function-test, a ten-round single-stack 1911 mag. I need not shop for a new pistol. These two guns are handguns, and in the case of the all-steel 1911, does not hurt my gimpy hand, when it is the primary hand.

Actually, it is not the total ammo limit that bothers me, but the limitation of one reload. Having two-plus spare mags, or two other types of reloading devices, is a form of insurance against the very real possibility of fumbling and dropping one of them. Laws are usually written by folks who have never shot a fast-paced training exercise, or seen any elephants.

[Poconnor]

Every time I go to DC it seems they change their policies. Back in 09 it was no problem, I just showed my ID and signed in. Every time I have gone since then it has been different. The last time I asked a friend in the secret service about retired LEOSA he told me it was pretty much a no go for most of DC. But he also told me I couldn’t carry in my local bank. So I really have no idea.

[Beat Trash]

Was in DC a couple of years ago. Got off of the subway at the stop for the Smithsonian. Needed to use the restroom so my wife and I went into the nearest Smithsonian and got in line for security. I identified myself as an off-duty LEO to security checking bags at the entrance. They were very polite and professional. My being armed was not an issue. They still checked my backpack and my wife's purse, I assume for IED's. I had a couple of other incidents where I felt necessary to identify myself as an off-duty LEO. Every time, I was treated like gold.

I have never gone to DC for Police Week (Something I plan on correcting next year). Those I know who go on a regular basis tell me they are always treated like gold by DC Metro.

[Trooper224]

I was honestly surprised at the attitude of DC cops on my first visit there. Quite a few places either refuse to recognize LEOSA or simply don't understand it. I expected similar things from DC cops and maybe even worse, but was treated well by everyone I met. The only time I don't carry when traveling is when flying, which I try to avoid whenever possible. I have this thing about not trusting airline baggage handlers with my firearm. Last time I was in DC I was carrying a 1911 and two spare mags, so I never had reason to think of mag restrictions. These days it might just be a revolver, so as to avoid any issues with that.


Another place in DC where carry is a no-go is the Holocaust Museum.

[octagon]

You can't carry in the Holocaust museum but they will let you lock it up and go in. Also you can carry on the Library of Congress tour but not on the library floor if you are doing research. You can lock it up in the LoC PD station. You can carry in the Washington monument you just have to sign in on the ground floor and sign out when you leave. The Spy museum was fine. Native American museum, Forestry museum and the Natural History Museum are all OK. The rest already mentioned I had similar experiences. I went on 7 week to weekend visits while my wife worked there a few years ago. I did have better experience with wallet badge and ID better than just ID.

[JRB]

I'm glad they treat LEO's with respect. I was forced to surrender a pocketknife at the Smithsonian despite being military.
So if you're meeting friends, etc there in DC that aren't LEOSA eligible, their mileage may significantly vary.

[TGS]

I'm glad they treat LEO's with respect. I was forced to surrender a pocketknife despite being military.

There's no statute in DC that exempts military from any laws regarding weapons, fwiw, nor does military status confer any authority to carry weapons when out and about on your own business. "I'm military" isn't really an affirmative defense to anything. In addition, the topic of the thread is LEOSA...and LEOs have statutory authority to carry their guns. If you were a qualified LEO from the .mil side, this would be pertinent.




The crusty, sassy old woman security guard called me an idiot for bringing a knife to DC, and said that I'd have to surrender it. No option to lock it up and retrieve it later, period. No option to leave, walk about a million blocks away and lock it up in my friend's car.
Surrender it or they'd call the cops. Those were my choices.

Did you make a complaint about this after leaving? If not, you should have. You carrying the pocket knife is not illegal in DC, provided it has utility purpose. A purpose built fighting knife is a different story. There was no reason for them to seize that property from you when you could have simply been escorted off the property. I visited the holocaust museum prior to becoming a LEO and they simply had me leave...whatever I did with the knife when not on their property wasn't their business, I just couldn't come in with it and they weren't rude about it, thankfully.

[Dagga Boy]

At the airport getting ready to process to leave. Basically...stated out of Washington. Stayed in Virginia and Annapolis. Did the NRA museum with a special guide, and had an amazing tour of the Naval Academy. Figured with my interests, that was pretty good. Amazing differences of folks and laws in this whole area depending where you are.

[JRB]

There's no statute in DC that exempts military from any laws regarding weapons, fwiw, nor does military status confer any authority to carry weapons when out and about on your own business. "I'm military" isn't really an affirmative defense to anything. In addition, the topic of the thread is LEOSA...and LEOs have statutory authority to carry their guns. If you were a qualified LEO from the .mil side, this would be pertinent.




Did you make a complaint about this after leaving? If not, you should have. You carrying the pocket knife is not illegal in DC, provided it has utility purpose. A purpose built fighting knife is a different story. There was no reason for them to seize that property from you when you could have simply been escorted off the property. I visited the holocaust museum prior to becoming a LEO and they simply had me leave...whatever I did with the knife when not on their property wasn't their business, I just couldn't come in with it and they weren't rude about it, thankfully.

I'd hoped that I'd edited my post before anyone read or responded to it. I'd thought it was relevant at first, but when I saw this was in the LE subforum I felt I was out of my lane, and regretted it. I apologize for that.

I'm keenly aware that being mil is basically a fart in the wind. But I'd like to think it'd show that I had no hostile intent or ill will, and that I could be spoken to like a reasonable, lawful adult.
I did not make a complaint. I've only ever seen complaints make things much worse in those sorts of cases. Losing a $65 knife wasn't worth an LE interaction or further disrupting the trip.

I'm rarely upset and few things surprise me anymore, but the condescending attitude and open disrespect from such an unexpected place got under my skin a little.

Again, my apologies for the thread drift and I'll pay closer attention to a thread's location before responding in the future.

[Kan S LaTrans]

There isn't for active LEOs...and there is supposed to be an exemption for LEOSA/HR218 retirees...but...I got a lecture from DC Metro last year after I retired when I went to DC for a medical conference with my wife (She's a surgeon). It was impossible to get the same answer twice, so I erred on the side of caution and carried a Glock 30.

I didn't want to be the poor bastard who caught a case in DC.