State Legality MatrixBinary TriggersDistrict of Columbia
Statute-cited, last verified 2026-07-31
Restricted
Restricted. No District statute names binary triggers, but the registration and assault-weapon regime leaves no clear lawful path; treat as unsettled.
Controlling law: D.C. Code §§ 7-2501.01 & 7-2502.02
Contested entry
The District's machine-gun definition (§ 7-2501.01(10)) was narrowed to automatic-only in 2008 and does not reach a one-round-per-function binary trigger, and no District statute names binary triggers. Device-level legality is unsettled; the host firearm must still clear the District's registration and assault-weapon rules, which most binary-capable rifles do not. Makers do not ship to the District.
The statute in practice
District Code section 7-2501.01 supplies the definitions for the registration chapter, and section 7-2502.02 identifies firearms that cannot be registered. Neither section expressly names a binary trigger, so the device question and the host firearm's separate registration eligibility must be analyzed as distinct issues.
What it means for you
The District's registration requirement applies to the host firearm independently of the trigger mechanism. A device-level conclusion does not establish that a binary-capable rifle can be registered.
Federal law
Binary triggers are legal under federal law and are not machine guns under 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b); ATF treats the trigger pull and the trigger release as two separate functions of the trigger, so one round is fired per function. Cargill v. Garland (2024) concerned bump stocks, not binary triggers, and does not change this.
Federal baseline verified 2026-07-31. Scope: Binary triggers (Franklin Armory BFSIII and similar): fire one round on trigger pull and one on release. Forced reset triggers are a separate class.
Common questions
Restricted. No District statute names binary triggers, but the registration and assault-weapon regime leaves no clear lawful path; treat as unsettled. Controlling law: D.C. Code §§ 7-2501.01 & 7-2502.02.
The controlling law is D.C. Code §§ 7-2501.01 & 7-2502.02. No District statute names binary triggers, but the registration and assault-weapon regime leaves no clear lawful path; treat as unsettled.
Binary triggers are legal under federal law and are not machine guns under 26 U.S.C. § 5845(b); ATF treats the trigger pull and the trigger release as two separate functions of the trigger, so one round is fired per function. Cargill v. Garland (2024) concerned bump stocks, not binary triggers, and does not change this.