Nearly 60 people showed up at Metropolitan Police Department (web|news) 's Headquarters Thursday to begin the process of legally registering a handgun in the District of Columbia after a 32-year ban, but police were prepared for many more.

ABC 7 reporter Jennifer Donelan interviewed the very first person to register a handgun under the MPD's amnesty policy in an interview you'll only see on ABC 7 News.

The 45-year-old married mother carried the weapon to police headquarters in a plastic bag, hoping to avoid the media cameras trained on the building. She asked not to be identified because she doesn't want the world to know she now can keep a gun in her upper Northwest home.

She said she got the gun for protection after an intruder got into her home a few years ago.

"He came up the basement steps," she recalled. "I got away (but) that was enough to scare the hell out of me."

"I wanted to be able to defend myself," she added.

In fact, most of the people who showed up to begin the registration priocess cited self-defense as the main reason for wanting a handgun.

"I live in D.C.; there's a crime issue all over," said one applicant. Another applicant said he is registering a gun "to have something in the house when you call 911 and they put you on hold." 

The registration progress began at 7:00 a.m. Thursday at MPD headquarters on Indiana Avenue NW. Fearing a rush of would-be gun owners, Chief Cathy Lanier (web|news|bio) limited registration to one firearm per person for the first 90 days of the new law's enforcement.  But only about 60 people showed up on the first day.

Dick Heller, the gun owner whose lawsuit led the Supreme Court to overturn the city's long-standing ban on handgun possession,  initially tried to register one of his guns Thursday, but was turned away because he didn't bring his weapon with him. His attorney adviced against it because of the concern he wouldn't be legally allowed to transport it from Maryland.

» Click here to check the D.C. Metro police Web site's explanation of the new gun rules

"They're trying to find as many ways as they can to make this process as difficult and unattractive as they can," said Heller's attorney, Dane von Breichenruchardt.

"We are here to exercise our constitutional rights that the Supreme Court reaffirmed just recently," added Heller 

But police say Heller's attorney was mistaken.  Under the 180-day amnesty, registrants can legally bring unloaded pistols to police headquarters.

Assistant Chief Peter Newsham of Metropolitan Police said, "Our understanding of the rules is that Mr. Heller can legally bring his weapon here today and we will do the best we can to accomodate him and get his registration."

Heller returned to police headquarters Friday morning  to register a weapon. But this time he carried a 22-caliber pistol with him. He was greeted by a throng of media and proclaimed: "It's a great day."

Anyone hoping to buy a new gun will have wait for a gun dealer to set up shop in D.C., so they can either purchase the weapons there or have out-of-state guns transferred to a dealer in the District.

Stephen Melton, one of the first D.C. residents to begin the registration process,  was undeterred.

"It takes a long time, but I'll just go ahead and do it," he said. 

The legislation passed by the council restricts the types of weapons people can keep in their homes. Under D.C. law, people can keep revolvers and some semi-automatic pistols, so long as it cannot fire more than 12 rounds without reloaded.

Those who want to register a gun have to take a 20-question, multiple-choice written safety test, a vision exam, and prove they are residents of the District. Gun owners will be fingerprinted and the weapons will be tested for ballistics. 

The D.C. Council approved the firearms legislation Tuesday, allowing residents to begin applying for handgun permits.

Complete Coverage

Text of the Bill

Amnesty Program

MPD Regulations

The council's unanimous vote came after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on June 26 that the city's 32-year-old ban on handguns was unconstitutional.

Handguns, as well as other legal firearms such as rifles and shotguns, also must be kept unloaded and disassembled, or equipped with trigger locks - unless there is a "reasonably perceived threat of immediate harm" in the home.

"This is not perfect legislation," said D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson, who worked with the mayor's office on the bill. "The first step is what we have before us today so that we maintain important provisions in our gun registration law while we continue look at how we can further refine our gun registration law."

Gun rights groups, including the National Rifle Association, said at least some of the new regulations will likely be challenged.

The emergency legislation will remain in effect for 90 days, and the council expects to begin work in September on permanent legislation.

Though residents can begin applying for handgun permits this week, city officials have said the entire process could take weeks or months.

"It depends on what your situation is - whether you owned the gun before or purchased it outside the District of Columbia," police Chief Cathy Lanier said.

The process involves a written exam, proof of residency and good vision. Successful applicants must pay a registration fee and agree to fingerprinting and a criminal background check before obtaining a weapon.

Even with Tuesday's vote, Washington's gun regulations will remain among the strictest in the country, said Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

He said Chicago, where it is illegal to possess or sell handguns, now has the toughest ordinance, though the city is facing a legal challenge following the Supreme Court ruling.

It remains to be seen how much of the district's new regulations will withstand constitutional challenges, Helmke said, adding that it could take years for the courts to sort it all out.

The Supreme Court's 5-4 decision June 26 that affirmed the right to have guns for self-defense "raised more questions than it's probably answered," Helmke said. "They haven't explained where you draw the line.