The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against Colorado on Wednesday, challenging the state's ban on ammunition magazines holding more than 15 rounds. The lawsuit argues that the ban violates the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens by restricting access to commonly used firearms. The DOJ claims that magazines holding more than 15 rounds are standard capacity and constitutionally protected, as they are widely owned and used for lawful purposes such as self-defense and recreational shooting.
Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon stated that Colorado's ban is 'political virtue signaling at the expense of Americans’ constitutional right to keep and bear arms.' The DOJ's lawsuit follows a similar legal action against Denver's ban on certain semi-automatic rifles, which Dhillon predicted would be ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Colorado's magazine ban was enacted in 2013 following a mass shooting in Aurora that killed 12 people. The state defines 'large-capacity magazines' as any device capable of holding more than 15 rounds. The DOJ's lawsuit cites the Supreme Court's 2008 Heller decision, which affirmed the right to possess firearms in common use for lawful purposes. The lawsuit argues that the ban infringes on this right by criminalizing the possession, sale, or transfer of magazines that are standard equipment for many popular firearms, including AR-15-style rifles.
The DOJ's lawsuit comes amid broader legal challenges to gun restrictions in blue states. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has vowed to defend the state's magazine ban, emphasizing its role in public safety. Meanwhile, gun rights advocates argue that such bans disproportionately affect law-abiding citizens while doing little to deter criminals.
The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for gun laws nationwide, particularly in light of recent Supreme Court rulings that have expanded Second Amendment protections. The case is expected to draw attention from both gun control and gun rights advocates as it progresses through the courts.