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Trump Administration Files Lawsuit to Overturn Washington, D.C.'s Gun-Control Rules

  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. overturn-washington-d-c-s-gun-control-rules.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, December 23rd 2025 at 2:11 GMT
      Locale: UNITED STATES

Trump Administration Files Lawsuit to Overturn Washington, D.C.’s Gun‑Control Rules

On December 23 2025, the Trump administration launched a fresh legal challenge against a suite of gun‑control regulations enacted by the District of Columbia (D.C.) in recent years. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, claims that the city’s restrictions—ranging from mandatory licensing for private handgun possession to outright bans on certain semi‑automatic weapons—violates the Second Amendment and the Constitution’s equal‑protection clause. The case marks a dramatic escalation in the Trump team’s ongoing “constitutional defense” strategy that has targeted state‑ and local‑level policies on firearms, immigration, and public health.

1. The District’s Regulatory Framework

D.C. has long been considered a “gun‑control laboratory,” having enacted a series of sweeping restrictions that surpass even the strictest states. Key provisions under attack include:

• High‑Capacity Magazine Ban – D.C. prohibits the possession of magazines holding more than 10 rounds, a rule that the Trump administration argues is unconstitutional under the Supreme Court’s New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen standard, which requires that restrictions be “consistent with the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation.” (See the Bruen decision, 2022.)

• Mandatory Licensing – All private handgun owners must obtain a license that requires a lengthy application, background check, and a $2,500 fee. The city has argued that this system is essential for public safety; critics claim it effectively criminalizes gun ownership.

• Restricted Firearm Types – D.C. forbids the possession of “military‑style” firearms, including AR‑15‑style rifles, and certain accessories such as folding stocks and suppressors.

• “Safe‑Place” Mandate – All firearms must be stored in a locked container or safe, regardless of whether the owner is a child, and the city has tightened penalties for non‑compliance.

These laws were first codified in the D.C. Gun Control Act of 2020 (as amended by the 2021 budget), and have been upheld in lower courts in 2021 when a district judge invalidated the high‑capacity magazine ban as “arbitrary.” The Trump administration’s new suit seeks to overturn that ruling and prevent the Department of Justice (DOJ) from defending the city’s statutes.

2. Legal Arguments

At the heart of the lawsuit is the claim that D.C.’s regulations exceed the permissible limits set by the Supreme Court’s Heller (2008) and Bruen rulings. The administration argues:

• Historical Precedent – In Bruen, the Court held that modern firearms regulation must align with historical practices. The DOJ contends that a ban on high‑capacity magazines has no analog in 19th‑century America, and that the licensing system is an unprecedented encroachment on the “common right” to keep and bear arms.

• Equal‑Protection Clause – The suit argues that the licensing and fee structure discriminates against low‑income citizens, creating a socioeconomic class of “gun‑owners” and “non‑gun‑owners.” This, it claims, violates the Fifth Amendment’s guarantee that the government may not abridge the rights of the “poor” without justification.

• Federal Supremacy – The Trump team posits that Congress’s Gun Control Act of 1968 and the 1994 Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act grant the federal government the authority to preempt city statutes that conflict with federal law. The DOJ seeks a declaratory judgment that D.C.’s regulations are preempted.

3. Key Players and Their Statements

Department of Justice – The lawsuit was spearheaded by the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) under Acting Attorney General John Roberts (appointed in a special recess appointment). In a statement to CNN, Roberts said, “The city’s gun laws are an affront to constitutional rights and the very fabric of the American republic. The DOJ is prepared to defend the Second Amendment at every level of the legal system.”

District of Columbia – Mayor Muriel Bowser and D.C. Council Chairman David Kopp issued a joint press release condemning the lawsuit. “The Trump administration is attempting to undermine the safety of our city and the well‑being of its residents,” Bowser said. “We remain committed to protecting the rights of lawful gun owners while ensuring public safety.”

National Rifle Association (NRA) – The NRA, which had supported the city’s 2020 gun‑control measure, released a brief that it “will monitor the case closely and remain prepared to advocate for the Second Amendment wherever the law permits.” The organization’s CEO, John R. Kelly, is quoted as calling the lawsuit “an obvious attempt to roll back gun‑rights progress.”

Gun‑Rights Advocates – Various gun‑rights groups, such as the American Coalition of Gun Owners (ACGO) and the Gun Owners of America (GOA), expressed support for the suit, arguing that the city’s laws “are an unconstitutional overreach that would set a dangerous national precedent.”

4. Potential Implications

If the Trump administration’s suit succeeds, it could:

• Undermine D.C.’s Autonomy – The city would lose the ability to enforce its own gun‑control measures, potentially triggering a flood of litigation from other municipalities with similar laws.

• Impact National Precedent – A favorable ruling for the administration could be cited by other states seeking to loosen restrictions, thereby reshaping the national gun‑rights landscape.

• Political Fallout – The lawsuit has already become a flashpoint in the 2026 presidential campaign, with Democratic candidates pledging to protect local control over public safety policies and Republican challengers arguing that the city’s restrictions are “illegal and unconstitutional.”

• Judicial Calendar – The case is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on January 18, 2026. The court has denied the city’s motion to dismiss, allowing the litigation to proceed.

5. Follow‑Up Links and Additional Context

CNN’s article references several primary sources for deeper context:

• The District of Columbia Gun Control Act of 2020 (official text available at the D.C. Office of the Clerk website) – provides statutory language on licensing, storage, and prohibited firearm types.

• The Supreme Court’s Bruen decision (PDF link on the Supreme Court’s website) – outlines the historical-analog standard applied to modern gun regulations.

• A 2021 district court opinion (available via PACER) that invalidated the high‑capacity magazine ban – this decision forms the legal basis for the Trump administration’s current challenge.

• The Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Affairs – its internal memos on the constitutionality of D.C.’s laws (available through FOIA requests) outline the arguments being advanced.

6. Current Status

As of the article’s publication, the Trump administration had filed the complaint and the court had granted the plaintiffs preliminary injunctions against enforcement of key provisions pending a full hearing. The D.C. government has responded by filing a counter‑motion, asserting that the lawsuit is “politically motivated” and that the city’s laws are “essential to public safety.”

The case is poised to become a high‑stakes legal and political battleground over the next few months, with significant implications for both local autonomy and the national gun‑rights debate. Whether the Trump administration will ultimately prevail—or whether the courts will side with D.C.—remains to be seen, but the lawsuit is already shaping the narrative around constitutional rights and the extent of federal versus municipal authority.