Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the District of Columbia and the Metropolitan Police Department, alleging the District’s firearms registration system violates the Second Amendment.
According to the complaint, District law requires residents to register firearms with the Metropolitan Police Department but broadly prohibits registration of certain firearms, including AR-15–style rifles and other commonly owned weapons. The Justice Department argues the registration bans amount to an unconstitutional restriction on the rights of law-abiding citizens seeking to possess firearms for lawful purposes.
The lawsuit alleges MPD has engaged in a pattern and practice of refusing to register firearms protected under the Second Amendment, forcing residents to pursue legal action to assert their rights or risk arrest for lawful possession.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi said the suit reflects the department’s position that District residents should not be barred from exercising constitutional rights because of where they live. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Civil Rights Division said the action is intended to enforce protections recognized by the Supreme Court.
The lawsuit references the 2008 Supreme Court decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, which held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess firearms for lawful purposes, including self-defense in the home. The Justice Department contends that despite the ruling, District policies continue to prevent residents from owning firearms covered by that decision.
The Civil Rights Division said it is bringing the case under its authority to enforce the Second Amendment, the Police Pattern or Practice Act, and Executive Order 14206. The department encouraged individuals who believe they have been improperly prevented from registering or owning lawful firearms to submit complaints through its Second Amendment Section.
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