In what state can a D.C. resident legally purchase a handgun? They won't be able to do it in D.C. even after the ruling is affirmed. There are no longer any gun stores in D.C. I wonder if D.C. residents can be gifted handguns by sympathetic outsiders? As a MD resident, I can't go outside MD to buy a handgun. It can only be transferred through a MD dealer. As far as I know, there are no D.C. dealers who can transfer under the law. Maybe our new mayor will make something happen.