The Capitol Police Board has regulations governing firearms, explosives, incendiary devices and other dangerous weapons which specify that no person shall carry any firearm inside the chamber or on the floor of either House.
The full regulations can be seen in the following image, which has been transcribed as text at the end of this article.
APPENDIX J
POLICE BOARD REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO
FIREARMS EXPLOSIVES INCENDIARY DEVICES
AND OTHER DANGEROUS WEAPONS (1967).
TRAFFIC REGULATIONS FOR CAPITOL GROUNDS
POLICE BOARD REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO FIREARMS, EXPLOSIVES, INCENDIARY DEVICES, AND OTHER DANGEROUS WEAPONS
October 31, 1967
Pursuant to the authority vested in it by the Act of July 31, 1946, as amended by the Acts of July 11, 1947 and October 20, 1967 (40 U.S.C. 193a et seq.; D.C. Code 9-118 et seq.), the Capitol Police Board hereby issues the following regulations with respect to firearms, dangerous weapons, explosives and incendiary devices in order to preserve safety and order within the Capitol Buildings and Grounds.
- The provisions of section 6(a)(1) (A) and (C) of the Act, as amended, shall not apply to witnesses before Committees or Subcommittees of the Congress summoned or subpoenaed to appear and produce as exhibits firearms, dangerous weapons, explosives or incendiary devices.
- Except as specified below, the provisions of section 6(a)(1)(A) of the Act, as amended relating to the carriage of firearms shall not apply to officers or employees of the United States authorized by law to carry firearms, duly appointed federal, state of local law enforcement officers authorized to carry firearms, and members of the Armed Forces, while engaged in the performance of their duties, or any person holding a valid permit under the laws of the District of Columbia to carry firearms in the course of his employment. Provided, that nothing contained in the provisions of section 6(a)(1)(A) of the act shall prohibit any Member of Congress from maintaining firearms within the confines of his office or any Member of Congress or any employee or agent of any Member of Congress from transporting within the Capitol Grounds firearms unloaded and securely wrapped.
- No person, whether or not specified in the preceding paragraph, shall carry any firearm inside the chamber or on the floor of either House, in any lobby or cloakroom adjacent thereto, in the galleries of either House or in the Marble Room of the Senate or Rayburn Room of the House unless assigned or approved by the two Sergeants of Arms for maintenance of adequate security.
- The provisions of section 6(a)(1)(B) of the Act, as amended, relating to the use of firearms and dangerous weapons shall not apply to any duly appointed law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of his official duties.
- The provisions of section 6(a)(1) of the Act, as amended, relating to the carriage, transporting and use of explosives and incendiary devices shall not apply to any person receiving written approval of the Capitol Police Board, upon certification by the Architect of the Capitol that the use of explosives or incendiary devices is necessary in connection with duly authorized and supervised construction or demolition work.
- As used in the Act and in these regulations, the term “incendiary device” means any substance, material or item, or any combination thereof (including, but not limited to, spontaneously inflammable, oxidizing, thermal, metallic, and modified oil mixtures) capable of igniting other materials by means of combustion, explosion, intense heat, or otherwise, but does not include ordinary matches, flint and steel lighters or gas lighters intended primarily for personal or household use.
CAPITOL POLICE BOARD,
ROBERT G. DUNPHY, Chairman
ZEAKE W. JOHNSON, Member.
J. GEORGE STEWARD, Member.
