The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit against the State of California, seeking to block enforcement of recently enacted handgun restrictions that the department argues violate the Second Amendment.
The legal action targets both California’s newly adopted restrictions on certain Glock-style handguns and the state’s long-standing Handgun Roster, contending that the measures unlawfully limit the constitutional rights of law-abiding firearm owners.
Federal Government Seeks to Halt New Firearm Law
According to the Justice Department, the lawsuit asks the court to prevent California from enforcing legislation that restricts the retail sale of Glock handguns and other firearms with comparable firing mechanisms.
Federal officials argue that the law effectively prohibits the purchase of some of the most commonly owned handguns in the United States, placing unconstitutional limits on lawful firearm ownership.
The complaint also challenges California’s Handgun Roster, which specifies the handgun models that may legally be sold within the state.
Justice Department Defends Second Amendment Rights
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said the federal government is taking legal action to protect what it describes as the constitutional rights of Americans, including residents of California.
Blanche argued that states cannot prohibit firearms that are widely owned for lawful purposes and said the administration intends to challenge regulations it believes infringe upon the Second Amendment.
Civil Rights Division Supports Constitutional Challenge
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, said the lawsuit reflects the department’s commitment to enforcing constitutional protections related to firearm ownership.
She stated that the Civil Rights Division will continue pursuing legal action against state laws that, in the department’s view, unlawfully restrict the rights of responsible gun owners.
Supreme Court Decision Cited in Lawsuit
The Justice Department pointed to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Wolford v. Lopez, arguing that the decision reaffirmed constitutional protections for carrying handguns outside the home for self-defense.
According to the department, the ruling emphasized that states may not prevent citizens from possessing firearms that are commonly used for lawful self-defense purposes.
Federal attorneys contend that California’s restrictions are inconsistent with those constitutional principles.
California’s Firearm Regulations Under Scrutiny
The challenged law would prohibit the retail sale of Glock-manufactured handguns and similar firearms based on their firing mechanisms, while the existing Handgun Roster continues to limit which handgun models consumers may legally purchase in California.
The lawsuit seeks judicial intervention to block enforcement of both measures while the constitutional challenge proceeds through the federal court system.
Civil Rights Division Encourages Public Complaints
The Justice Department noted that its Civil Rights Division’s Second Amendment Section is responsible for enforcing federal protections related to the right to keep and bear arms.
Officials also encouraged individuals who believe their Second Amendment rights have been violated to submit complaints through the department’s designated reporting process as it continues its enforcement efforts.
