{"id":2599031,"date":"2026-05-05T14:47:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T18:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-sues-denver-over-semiautomatic-rifle-ban-as-mayor-remains-defiant\/"},"modified":"2026-05-05T14:49:19","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T18:49:19","slug":"doj-sues-denver-over-semiautomatic-rifle-ban-as-mayor-remains-defiant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-sues-denver-over-semiautomatic-rifle-ban-as-mayor-remains-defiant\/","title":{"rendered":"DOJ sues Denver over semiautomatic rifle ban as mayor remains defiant"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdoj-sues-denver-over-semiautomatic-rifle-ban-as-mayor-remains-defiant%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2599031&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Denver over the city\u2019s 37-year-old ban on so-called \u201cassault weapons,\u201d arguing it violates the Second Amendment. The DOJ says Denver\u2019s ordinance targets AR-15-style semiautomatic rifles with standard-capacity magazines-firearms it describes as commonly owned and protected for lawful use-and includes politically charged wording about what qualifies as an \u201cassault weapon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>DOJ officials, including Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, say the challenge is meant to protect law-abiding Americans from unconstitutional restrictions and cite the need to stop the city from enforcing the ban. Denver\u2019s Mayor Mike Johnston and City Attorney Michiko Brown rejected DOJ\u2019s earlier demand to resolve the dispute before litigation, with Johnston saying the city will not withdraw its long-standing policy and Brown calling the lawsuit claim baseless and an overreach.<\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit asks a federal court in Colorado to prevent Denver police from enforcing the ordinance to the extent it bans possession of those AR-15-style rifles.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"167\">Justice Department<\/a> filed a lawsuit against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/denver\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3409\">Denver<\/a> on Tuesday over the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/colorado\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"767\">Colorado<\/a> city\u2019s 37-year-old ban on so-called \u201cassault weapons,\u201d including constitutionally protected semiautomatic rifles, after the Democratic mayor signaled defiance.<\/p>\n<p>The court filing alleges Denver\u2019s firearms ordinance features \u201cpolitically charged rhetoric\u201d regarding its use of the term \u201cassault weapon.\u201d AR-15-style rifles fall under this category, per the law, despite being the most popular rifle in the nation.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4555718\/doj-sues-denver-semi-automatic-rifle-ban-mayor-remains-defiant\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ sues Denver over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/we-dont-need-bidens-permission-to-own-a-semi-automatic-gun\/\" title=\"We Don\u2019t Need Biden\u2019s Permission To Own A \u2018Semi...Automatic\u2019 Gun\">semi-automatic rifle ban<\/a> as mayor remains defiant<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4555537\/fulton-county-fights-doj-2020-election-workers-personal-data\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Fulton County fights DOJ bid for 2020 election workers\u2019 personal data<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4555078\/attorneys-general-urged-revisit-contracts-shady-8-dem-donating-firms\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Attorneys general urged to revisit contracts with \u2018Shady Eight\u2019 Democrat-donating firms<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>\u201cWhen the City banned AR-15 style rifles with standard capacity magazines, it banned an arm in common use for lawful purposes by law-abiding citizens,\u201d the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/crt\/media\/1439466\/dl\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/crt\/media\/1439466\/dl\">federal lawsuit states<\/a>. \u201cTherefore, the Ordinance violates the Second Amendment, and the United States brings this action to vindicate the rights of Denver citizens whose rights have been\u2014and are continuing to be\u2014violated by Defendants.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/harmeet-dhillon\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"10095\">Harmeet Dhillon<\/a> brought the legal action against Denver\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/montana-governor-orders-state-support-in-manhunt-for-bar-shooter\/\" title=\"Montana governor orders state support in manhunt for bar shooter\">city-county government<\/a> and police department.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have directed the Civil Rights Division, through our new Second Amendment Section, to defend law-abiding Americans from restrictions such as those we are challenging in these cases,\u201d she <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-sues-city-denver-unconstitutional-weapons-bans\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/opa\/pr\/justice-department-sues-city-denver-unconstitutional-weapons-bans\">said in a statement<\/a>. \u201cLaw-abiding Americans, regardless of what city or state they reside in, should not have to live under threat of criminal sanction just for exercising their Second Amendment right to possess arms which are owned by tens of millions of their fellow citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/denvergov.org\/files\/assets\/public\/v\/1\/mayor\/documents\/denver-response-doj-notice-of-suit-may2026.pdf\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/denvergov.org\/files\/assets\/public\/v\/1\/mayor\/documents\/denver-response-doj-notice-of-suit-may2026.pdf\">letter sent to Denver leaders<\/a> last week, Dhillon threatened to sue unless city officials agreed to resolve the matter in pre-suit negotiations. Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mike-johnston\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11069\">Mike Johnston<\/a> rejected the demand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re here today to let them know that our answer is \u2018hell no,&#8217;\u201d the mayor said on Monday. \u201cNo, we will not roll back a common-sense policy that has kept weapons of war off of these city streets for 37 years.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Denver City Attorney Michiko Brown gave a similar response, calling the DOJ\u2019s litigation threat \u201cbaseless, irresponsible, and a clear overreach of the federal government\u2019s power.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The ordinance was approved by the Denver City Council in 1989 in response to a string of incidents related to gun violence at the time. The law\u2019s text makes it a crime \u201cto carry, store, keep, manufacture, sell, or otherwise possess assault weapons\u201d in Denver.<\/p>\n<p>The DOJ is asking the U.S. District Court in Colorado to prevent Denver police from enforcing the ordinance \u201cto the extent it bans the possession of AR-15 style rifles with standard capacity magazines,\u201d according to the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4549057\/doj-takes-aim-clunky-gun-regulations-atf-robert-cekada-confirmation\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4549057\/doj-takes-aim-clunky-gun-regulations-atf-robert-cekada-confirmation\/\">DOJ TAKES AIM AT \u2018CLUNKY\u2019 GUN REGULATIONS AFTER ATF CHIEF ROBERT CEKADA CONFIRMATION<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Constitution is not a suggestion and the Second Amendment is not a second-class right,\u201d acting Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"20883\">Todd Blanche<\/a> said. \u201cDenver\u2019s ban on <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >commonly owned semi-automatic rifles directly violates<\/a> the right to bear arms. This Department of Justice will vigorously defend the liberties of law-abiding citizens nationwide.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In response to Dhillon\u2019s letter, Brown vowed to defend the firearms law in court.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DOJ sues Denver over 37-year \u201cassault weapons\u201d ban<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2599032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP25064650904216.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[13018,7076,4585,79149],"class_list":["post-2599031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-denver","tag-doj","tag-lawsuit","tag-semiautomatic-rifle-ban"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP25064650904216.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599031","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2599031"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599031\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2599035,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599031\/revisions\/2599035"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2599032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2599031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2599031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2599031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}