Justice Department Sues Virginia, California over Gun Laws
The lawsuit says the ban would make commercial purchases of AR-15-style rifles a crime and violate residents’ Second Amendment rights.
- On Wednesday, July 1, 2026, the U.S. Justice Department filed a lawsuit against California in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, seeking to halt the state's "Glock ban" and "Handgun Roster" regulations.
- Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon warned California on June 24 that the Justice Department would sue if the state refused to cease enforcement, but Attorney General Rob Bonta rejected that demand on Tuesday, calling the laws "commonsense handgun design safety laws."
- Citing the Supreme Court's decision in Wolford v. Lopez, federal officials argue the restrictions violate the Second Amendment by blocking citizens from acquiring firearms in "common use" for self-protective purposes.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche stated that "the Constitution is not a suggestion," asserting the Second Amendment remains a "sacred right" for Americans in California where the lawsuit seeks to restore popular handgun access.
- This litigation represents a broader federal escalation, occurring alongside similar DOJ challenges to assault weapons bans in Virginia, Illinois, and Connecticut, as the Supreme Court prepares to hear further Second Amendment cases next term.
25 Articles
25 Articles
DOJ Sues Virginia Over New Ban On Assault Weapons
Courthouse News reports: The Justice Department sued Virginia Wednesday just hours after the commonwealth’s ban on the sale and purchase of high-capacity semiautomatic weapons went into effect. “The Constitution is not a suggestion, and the Second Amendment is not a second-class right,” Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a news release. “This Justice Department has done more to protect the Second Amendment than any administration …
DOJ launches lawsuit over California's Glock ban after warning
The Department of Justice sued California on Wednesday after warning the blue state against implementing a ban on the commercial sale of semiautomatic Glock-style handguns. Before filing the lawsuit, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon gave Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and California Attorney General Rob Bonta one week to consider entering pre-suit settlement negotiations that would have avoided litigation altogether. The Tue…
Justice Department sues Virginia over firearm law
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Justice sued the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia Department of State Police Wednesday, saying the state’s new law restricting the future sale and purchase of certain semiautomatic firearms violates the Second…
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