The Metropolitan Police Department will begin accepting applications for gun carry permits Thursday.
However, the application process is restrictive and the city has not yet certified any instructors to provide the required 16 hours of classroom instruction and two hours of range training, MPD Office of Communications director Gwendolyn Crump said.
While there is currently no way to complete the training required to become eligible for a permit, Crump said that people can still apply.
"As detailed in the regulations and instructions, all applicants can wait to take the training until after they get a preliminary approval from MPD on their concealed pistol license application," Crump said.
The department's concealed carry application instruction sheet says that anyone seeking preliminary approval must then complete training within 45 days. The department did not give an estimate for when there will be MPD-certified trainers available to the public. Crump did say that several people have already applied.
"As of yesterday, 25 trainers already certified to provide firearm training to armed security guards have indicated they are preparing applications for this certification," she said.
"Since they already have one certification, we anticipate that this will be a quick process once they submit their syllabus to provide training on the topics specified in the legislation."
"In addition, some applicants for a concealed pistol license may be eligible to apply for an exemption from most of the firearms training requirements," Crump added. MPD documentation says the exemption is limited to someone who "submits evidence that he or she has received firearms training in the U.S. military or has otherwise completed firearms training conducted by a firearms instructor that, as determined by the Chief, is equal to or greater than that required by the Act."
There are several other barriers to receiving a permit.
The instruction sheet says applicants must demonstrate "good reasons to fear injury to person or property" to qualify for a permit. This means "showing a special need for self-protection distinguishable from the general community as supported by evidence of specific threats or previous attacks which demonstrate a special danger to the applicant’s life."
This must be "supported by evidence of specific threats or previous attacks which demonstrate a special danger to the applicant’s life."
In order to do so "a person shall allege, in writing, serious threats of death or serious bodily harm, any attacks on his or her person, or any theft of property from his or her person," MPD documentation reads. "The person shall also allege that the threats are of a nature that the legal possession of a pistol is necessary as a reasonable precaution against the apprehended danger."
The applicant will also be required to "provide all evidence of contemporaneous reports to the police of such threats or attacks, and disclose whether or not the applicant has made a sworn complaint to the police or the courts of the District of Columbia concerning any threat or attack."
Residing or working in a high-crime area is not considered "a good reason to fear injury to person or property for the issuance of a concealed carry license," according to the document.
Additionally, MPD documentation shows that there is $161 in fees associated with obtaining a permit.