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The U.S. Department of Justice is taking direct aim at Washington, D.C.’s gun laws.
On Monday, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The lawsuit alleges that the city’s firearm registration system amounts to an unconstitutional ban on AR-15s and other commonly owned firearms protected by the Second Amendment.
At issue is D.C.’s requirement that residents register firearms with MPD, combined with a sweeping list of firearms the city simply refuses to register. According to the DOJ, that combination functions as a de facto ban. As it forces law-abiding citizens to choose between surrendering their rights or risking arrest for possessing firearms that are legal under federal law.
“Washington, D.C.’s ban on some of America’s most popular firearms is an unconstitutional infringement on the Second Amendment,” said Pamela Bondi. She noted that living in the nation’s capital should not strip citizens of fundamental constitutional protections.
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The lawsuit was filed by the Civil Rights Division’s newly created Second Amendment Section. It signals that the DOJ is now actively policing state and local gun restrictions. Not just defending them in court.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the case is about enforcing long-settled law.
“The newly established Second Amendment Section filed this lawsuit to ensure that the very rights D.C. resident Mr. Heller secured 17 years ago are enforced today,” Dhillon said, referring to District of Columbia v. Heller.
That landmark 2008 Supreme Court decision struck down D.C.’s handgun ban. And held that the Second Amendment protects the right of law-abiding citizens to possess commonly used firearms for lawful purposes, including self-defense in the home.
According to the DOJ, the District never truly complied.
While D.C. technically allows firearm ownership post-Heller, the lawsuit alleges MPD has adopted a pattern and practice of refusing to register protected firearms, including AR-15-style rifles. As a result, residents are being forced into expensive lawsuits just to exercise their rights. Or face potential wrongful arrest.
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The Justice Department argues that this conduct violates not only the Second Amendment. But also federal civil rights law governing unconstitutional police practices. The case is being brought under the Police Pattern or Practice Act (34 U.S.C. § 12601), Executive Order 14206, and the Constitution itself.
For gun owners, the significance is hard to miss.
This isn’t a private challenge or a gun-rights group filing suit. It’s the federal government accusing a local police department of systematically violating the Second Amendment.
The DOJ also encouraged current or prospective D.C. gun owners who believe they are being unlawfully blocked from owning or registering a firearm to submit complaints directly to the Civil Rights Division.
Seventeen years after Heller, the fight over what the Second Amendment actually means in the nation’s capital is far from over. This time, however, the federal government is on the side of enforcement. Not evasion.
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is a seasoned outdoorsman, lifelong hunter, and the kind of guy who’d rather track whitetails than scroll social media. As an editor for GunsAmerica, he’s got a sharp eye for spotting both solid gear and bad gun laws. Whether he’s deep in the woods or deep in editorial deadlines, Larry brings a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to firearms, hunting, and the great American tradition of self-reliance. If there’s a hot debate on gun rights or the latest in hunting tech, you can bet Larry’s got an opinion—and it’s probably backed up with both facts and field experience.
Experience:
– Licensed Bowhunter, Hunter, and Trapper – Experienced in ethical hunting and wildlife conservation.
– Concealed Carry Permit Holder (NYS & AZ) – Trained and licensed to carry in multiple states.
– 2A Journalist – Covering firearms legislation, Second Amendment issues, and gun rights for over a decade.
– Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) – Certified to provide emergency medical care in the field.
– Field-Tested Gear Reviewer – Hands-on experience with firearms, optics, and hunting tech.