The Law at a Glance

THE PROCESS

· An applicant must bring his or her revolver, unloaded and in a container, to police headquarters, 300 Indiana Ave. NW, to start the registration process. The applicant must also bring two passport-sized photos, proof of D.C. residency, and a valid D.C. driver's license or a letter from a physician attesting that the applicant's vision is at least good enough to drive.

· An applicant must fill out registration forms, submit fingerprints and pass a written firearms-proficiency test, while police ballistics experts test-fire the handgun. The revolver will then be returned to the owner, but the owner cannot legally use the weapon, even for self-defense, until notified that the registration has been approved.

· Before approving a registration, police will conduct a background check of the applicant. There are several disqualifying factors, including a felony conviction or a history of mental illness. Ballistics examiners will compare the test-fired bullets to bullets from unsolved shootings to determine whether a gun was used in a crime.

· It is not clear how long it normally will take for police to approve a registration application.

-- Paul Duggan