Now that two people have asked me to write down my DC gun registration adventures, I've finally decided to do so (I also have the morning off).

Step 1: Google "gun stores metro Washington DC" result: Atlantic guns, Silver Spring, MD. It was metro-accessible and had a sale on Glock pistols the weekend of February 20-21. I took the bus (30 minute ride + 5 minute walk) and put down a deposit on a Glock model 17. A week later I changed it to a model 34 because it has adjustable sights, a larger magazine release, a larger slide stop release, and a longer barrel. About a month later they called me and told me it had arrived and had taken a long time because they had to order it with special 10-round DC-certified magazines.

Step 2: Go to Washington DC police headquarters and pick up all paperwork to start filling it out.

Step 3: Take another bus ride to Silver Spring, MD and pay for the whole thing. Keep in mind I had to leave it at the store.

Step 4: Call the only person in the District who does firearms transfers (there are no gun stores in the District and I can't bring it into the city on my own if it isn't registered) and tell him to go pick it up at Atlantic Guns.

Step 5: Take all the paperwork to Anacostia on the green line and meet with Charles Sykes, the guy who does the transfer. We filled out his portion of the paperwork.

Step 6: Take all this to the police station. They fingerprinted me. Then I was given a little form for fees and they told me to take this down to the basement and pay at window 1040-B (NOT 1040-A).

Step 7: Take my receipt from window 1040-B and go BACK to the firearms registration office. She took one copy and gave me the other. An officer there said OK, now take this form, fill it out, and get it notarized. "Do you have a notary public in the building?" "No, but they have one next door at the courthouse."

Step 8: Take latest form and go over to the courthouse, found the notary. "It's $2." "I only have a $5 note." "We don't make change." Went next door to a cafe and bought a Nantucket Nectars

Big Cranberry (it was really tasty). Now I had $2 exactly.

Step 9: Return to police station with notarized form. "OK, there is a 10 day waiting period. Come back on the 27th."

Step 10: Arrive at police station, pick up all paperwork. Jump back on the metro and go to Charles Sykes's office in Anacostia. Gave him paperwork. He handed over the gun.

Step 11: Stood at the bus stop with my $730 gun in the middle of the worst section of DC. Took bus to metro, took metro to police station.

Step 12: Handed my gun over to the police to do a ballistics test. They told me it would be about 40 minutes, so I went and got a sandwich at Au Bon Pain. It was really yummy. I think I got a turkey club.

Step 13: Returned to police station, picked up my gun, went home. Put it in my safe.