I'm going to be visiting some Civil War battlefields in the near future in VA. TX. and VA. have a reciprocal CG agreement. My wife wants to visit the Smithsonian Museum. What can I legally do with my handgun for the one day in Wash. D.C.?

That is a million dollar question right now.

After the most recent court ruling it is really up in the air.

DC has a stay in place right now so the only thing and the most wise thing is not to carry it into the city.

If your staying out side the city motel safe ?

I sure wouldn't just leave in my room unlocked up.

The only sure way to know is to call the Washington, DC Police headquarters, log the name of the person you talk to down, along with the date and time. They will tell you and then I would follow their advice.

I stayed at a hotel in Alexandria VA, left firearm at hotel in the safe, took the Metro from Alexandria straight to the station a couple of blocks from the Smithsonian. I think it cost $3 or something like that. I sure as hell would not take a firearm into the District. The Metro is cheap, parking your own car in DC is not.

Thanks for the tip, we'll check out that Metro.

swamp, if you have any interest in airplanes at all I highly recommend a trip out to the Air & Space Museum at Dulles Airport (Chantilly VA). The Air & Space Museum downtown is nice but the facility at Dulles is truly amazing. Want to see a SR-71 or a Space Shuttle? They have them and a jillion other airplanes.

http://airandspace.si.edu/visit/udvar-hazy-center/

The Metro does not go out there so you have to drive; parking is I think $12 but admission is free.

But for sure the way to get around DC itself is the Metro, driving in that city is no fun. I spent nearly a year up there working.

Not only is (was?) the pistol banned but also the ammo... EACH round is a separate felony count... what a nice place to visit!!!