Justice Department Sues Colorado Over Gun Law Banning High-Capacity Magazines
Federal lawsuit follows separate suit against Denver, challenging state's ammunition restrictions.
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Colorado on Tuesday, challenging the state's ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines in the latest clash between federal and state authorities over gun regulations. The legal action represents the Trump administration's continued effort to roll back state-level firearms restrictions through federal court challenges.
The lawsuit follows a separate suit the agency filed against the city of Denver on Tuesday, creating a coordinated federal assault on Colorado's gun control measures. Justice Department officials argue that the state's restrictions on ammunition magazines violate Second Amendment rights and exceed state authority under federal firearms law. The challenge comes as the Trump administration has made dismantling state gun control laws a key priority.
Colorado's law, which bans the sale and possession of magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds, has been in effect since 2013 but faced renewed federal scrutiny under the current administration. State officials defended the measure as a reasonable public safety regulation designed to reduce casualties in mass shooting events. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser vowed to vigorously defend the law in federal court.
The timing of the lawsuits appears strategically coordinated, with both Denver and state-level restrictions facing simultaneous federal challenges. Legal experts note that the administration is pursuing a comprehensive strategy to invalidate local gun control measures nationwide through the federal court system. The cases could ultimately reach the Supreme Court, which has shown increasing receptiveness to expansive Second Amendment interpretations.
Gun rights advocates celebrated the federal intervention, arguing that state magazine restrictions infringe on constitutional freedoms. However, gun control groups expressed alarm at the federal government's aggressive stance against state public safety measures. The litigation is expected to continue for months, with potential implications for similar laws in other states with strict ammunition regulations.
