Denver, Colorado — The Trump administration has launched a new legal challenge against local gun restrictions, filing a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Denver over the city’s decades-old assault weapons ban. The case marks another step in the administration’s broader effort to expand Second Amendment protections through the courts and the newly formed DOJ Second Amendment Section.
Denver’s ordinance, enacted in 1989 after a rise in gun violence, prohibits possession of certain semiautomatic firearms, including AR-15-style rifles. Federal attorneys argue the law violates constitutional protections because the rifles are commonly owned for lawful purposes such as self-defense and sport shooting. The lawsuit claims at least 16 million Americans own AR-15-style rifles nationwide.
Denver officials rejected a DOJ demand letter sent Monday seeking repeal of the ordinance. Mayor Mike Johnston and City Attorney Miko Brown called the federal action “baseless” and accused the administration of undermining local public safety authority. City leaders said they intend to aggressively defend the ordinance in court.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the administration believes law-abiding Americans should not face criminal penalties for owning commonly used firearms. Gun rights groups praised the lawsuit, while gun-control advocates warned it could weaken cities’ ability to address firearm violence through local regulation.
The lawsuit adds Colorado to a growing list of states and municipalities facing legal scrutiny from the administration over firearm restrictions.
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