Federal prosecutors in the District of Columbia announced a significant shift in their approach to gun-related cases under local law. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, appointed by President Donald Trump, stated Tuesday that her office will no longer bring felony charges against individuals simply for possessing rifles or shotguns. Instead, prosecutions will be reserved for cases in which long guns are used in violent crimes or when the defendant is legally prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior criminal record. Local D.C. authorities retain the ability to pursue charges for unregistered firearms.
Pirro emphasized that the policy change aligns with guidance from the Justice Department and the solicitor general, as well as recent Supreme Court rulings expanding gun rights. She cited the landmark 2008 decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, which struck down the city’s handgun ban, and the 2022 ruling invalidating New York’s strict carry laws. According to Pirro, a blanket ban on possessing rifles and shotguns cannot withstand constitutional scrutiny under these precedents. The new policy also applies to large-capacity magazines but does not alter prosecutions for handguns, which remain subject to standard enforcement.
The announcement comes amid heightened federal law enforcement activity in Washington, D.C., where President Trump has declared a crime emergency. Hundreds of National Guard troops and federal agents have been deployed to the city as part of a crackdown on violent crime and illegal firearms. Since the beginning of this initiative, authorities report having seized 76 firearms. Pirro characterized the policy shift as a balance between targeting “gun crime” and respecting constitutional protections, signaling a more selective, enforcement-driven approach rather than pursuing blanket firearm possession cases.
Pirro, who previously hosted a Fox News program, has been a frequent critic of D.C.’s crime policies, arguing that the city’s restrictions on firearms have been both overreaching and ineffective. In her announcement, she stressed that her office will continue to confiscate illegal or unlicensed firearms and pursue cases in which these weapons are connected to criminal activity. By narrowing the scope of prosecutions, Pirro framed the policy as both constitutional and pragmatic, allowing federal resources to focus on violent crime and threats to public safety rather than routine possession offenses.
Alongside the policy shift, Pirro’s office publicized the arrest of a woman accused of threatening President Trump. Nathalie Rose Jones, 50, of Lafayette, Indiana, was taken into custody after allegedly making repeated threats on social media, including claims that she intended to harm the president. Pirro highlighted the seriousness of the crime, stating that threatening the president is among the most severe offenses under federal law and will be prosecuted rigorously. Jones was charged in U.S. District Court with threatening to kill, kidnap, or injure the president and transmitting threats across state lines.
The announcement demonstrates Pirro’s dual focus on constitutional rights and high-priority law enforcement. By limiting routine prosecutions for rifle and shotgun possession while aggressively pursuing threats against national leaders, her office is signaling a targeted approach to public safety. The policy also reflects a broader legal context in which the Supreme Court has expanded individual gun rights, potentially reshaping enforcement priorities in D.C. The combination of strategic policy enforcement and high-profile prosecutions underscores Pirro’s effort to align her office’s actions with both legal precedent and practical crime-fighting objectives.
Threatening the life of the President is one of the most serious crimes and one that will be met with swift and unwavering prosecution. Make no mistake—justice will be served.
We extend our deepest gratitude to our dedicated law enforcement partners, especially the Secret… pic.twitter.com/P9qT0rHg2g
— Jeanine Pirro (@JudgeJeanine) August 18, 2025
