Imagine what might occur on Jan. 6, 2029, when Congress will certify the next president at the U.S. Capitol. Now imagine the scene with guns. 

Last week, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced that her office would no longer enforce a District of Columbia law prohibiting the possession of shotguns and rifles. Presumably, her directive includes assault weapons, like AK-47s — just what we need in a city that bustles with tourists and motorcades. Not only is her policy shift unwise, it is suspect. 

The timing, for one, seems strange, landing just as Trump is cracking down on violent crime in Washington. Earlier this month, the president declared an emergency in D.C., taking over its police department and activating the National Guard. Critics have argued that Trump is manufacturing crises to seize power. They may have a point. If the Trump administration were really concerned about fighting crime, would this be the moment to announce open season for gun owners? 

Even more concerning is the opening the new policy gives extremist groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, convicted of seditious conspiracy for planning to use violence to impede the U.S. government from enforcing the law. Of course, Trump already issued pardons and commutations to all of the defendants who were charged with crimes occurring at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, baselessly calling them “patriots” and “hostages.” Five people died in the attack, four more would die of suicide, and hundreds of police officers were injured.