By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Denver, alleging its assault weapons ordinance violates the Second Amendment.
• The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.
• DOJ officials contend that Denver’s ordinance unlawfully restricts possession of certain semi-automatic firearms and parts.
• The city adopted the ordinance in response to concerns about violent crime and public safety.
• Denver officials have said they will defend the law in court.
DENVER, CO — The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Denver, alleging that the city’s assault weapons ordinance infringes on Second Amendment rights, DOJ and local officials confirmed.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, where federal prosecutors contend that Denver’s regulations on certain semi-automatic firearms and firearm parts exceed permissible restrictions under the Constitution.
Denver’s city council enacted the ordinance as part of a broader effort to address violent crime and enhance public safety, officials said when the measure was adopted. The law includes specific prohibitions on defined categories of semi-automatic weapons and associated components.
In legal filings, DOJ attorneys argue that the ordinance’s language and scope effectively prohibit possession of commonly used firearms and parts without providing adequate constitutional justification, and they are seeking injunctive relief to block enforcement.
City officials have said they intend to defend the ordinance in court, stating the measures are a lawful exercise of local authority to protect residents. The case is pending before the federal court, and no trial date has been set.