In a move that reeks of bureaucratic defiance, D.C.’s U.S. Attorney has issued a sweeping threat: any gun owner caught entering the District with a firearm faces federal prosecution and potential jail time, no exceptions. This blanket warning, dropped like a lead balloon on law-abiding carriers, ignores the nuances of interstate travel and transport laws while thumbing its nose at the Supreme Court’s landmark Bruen decision. Remember, Bruen in 2022 struck down New York’s may-issue permitting as unconstitutional, affirming that the Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms in public for self-defense. Yet here we are, with D.C.’s top fed prosecutor acting like the Court never happened, treating every concealed carrier crossing state lines as a felon-in-waiting.

This isn’t just posturing—it’s a direct clash with DOJ guidance under both Trump and Biden eras, which explicitly allows unloaded, locked firearms in trunks during interstate travel under the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act (FOPA). The U.S. Attorney’s memo conveniently sidesteps FOPA’s safe passage provisions, demanding express permission from D.C. authorities before entry, a Catch-22 that turns routine commutes into legal minefields. Clever analysis? This is classic sanctuary-city tactics scaled to the federal level: weaponize ambiguity to chill 2A exercise. Data backs the hypocrisy—D.C.’s violent crime rate hovers at 40+ per 1,000 residents (FBI stats), yet prosecutors prioritize paperwork over public safety, leaving armed criminals unchecked while harassing vetted owners.

For the 2A community, the implications are stark: pack your lawyer, not just your pistol, when heading to the swamp. This escalates the post-Bruen battlefield, signaling to other blue strongholds that open defiance works until SCOTUS smacks it down again (hello, pending D.C. carry cases). Gun owners should document everything—travel itineraries, FOPA compliance—and support orgs like GOA or FPC filing preemptive injunctions. It’s a reminder that rights aren’t self-enforcing; they’re defended inch by inch against petty tyrants who mistake robes for crowns. Stay vigilant, carry confidently where legal, and vote with your feet—D.C.’s not worth the federal rap sheet.