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Justice Department challenges DC's semi-automatic gun restrictions
The US Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit on Monday against Washington DC, arguing that the district's prohibition on registering semi-automatic firearms violates the Second Amendment.
Key details of the lawsuit
Washington DC requires all gun owners to register their weapons with local police. However, the district explicitly bans the registration of AR-15 rifles and other semi-automatic guns, effectively making their legal ownership impossible. The Justice Department's complaint states that this restriction unlawfully prevents law-abiding citizens from possessing these firearms for self-defense at home.
Political and legal context
The lawsuit marks the latest clash between the Democrat-led district and Republican federal officials over gun policies. Washington DC's laws and budgets must receive congressional approval, and previous gun control measures have been overturned by Republican lawmakers.
Under the Trump administration, federal restrictions on firearms in the district have been relaxed. In a move announced this summer, the US Attorney for DC, Jeanine Pirro, said her office would no longer pursue felony charges against individuals found carrying rifles or shotguns.
Reactions and next steps
The Metropolitan Police Department declined to comment on the pending litigation. Similarly, the DC Attorney General's office did not provide a statement when contacted by reporters.
"The ban on some of America's most popular firearms is an unconstitutional infringement on the Second Amendment," said US Attorney General Pam Bondi in a statement.
DC's existing gun regulations
Washington DC permits residents without criminal records to register only a limited number of firearms. Applicants must complete mandatory safety training. Additionally, the district requires separate registrations for carrying guns outside the home and imposes restrictions on where firearms can be publicly carried.
Recent crime trends and federal interventions
Since President Donald Trump's return to office in January, Washington DC has experienced two high-profile shootings. In May, a gunman killed Israeli embassy staff near the city's Jewish museum. Last month, another shooter fatally wounded a West Virginia National Guard officer and injured a second.
In response, Trump declared a crime emergency in August, deploying National Guard troops and additional federal officers to the district. The Guard's presence, initially set to last through February, was recently extended by a court order while a legal challenge to their deployment proceeds.
Despite these incidents, violent crime in the district has decreased by 28% compared to the same period in 2024, with homicides dropping by nearly a third, according to local police data.
