The Justice Department has launched an extensive legal campaign challenging firearm restrictions across the United States, a strategy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon described as an unprecedented effort to enforce and expand Second Amendment rights.

This initiative has resulted in more than a dozen lawsuits filed by the department against various jurisdictions. The department's recent actions include filing lawsuits against California and Virginia over their respective gun laws, directly challenging state-level regulations.

Dhillon stated that the department's approach is not to challenge every firearm restriction but rather to strategically pursue cases that can establish lasting legal precedent. "We have an approach that tries to make law for the land and that's got some appellate strategy in it," she explained.

This litigation strategy marks a significant departure from previous administrations, which, while defending Second Amendment rights through Supreme Court filings, did not utilize the Civil Rights Division to file affirmative lawsuits against state or local gun laws on Second Amendment grounds. The current approach aims to solidify gun rights as a fundamental civil right.

The recent lawsuits target specific state laws. In Virginia, the Justice Department is challenging Senate Bill 749, which prohibits the sale and transfer of certain semi-automatic firearms classified as assault weapons. The lawsuit against California focuses on two regulations: restrictions affecting the sale of certain semi-automatic pistols and the state's handgun roster system, which the department argues prevents Californians from acquiring firearms readily available elsewhere.

California officials, including Attorney General Rob Bonta and Gov. Gavin Newsom, have defended their state's firearm safety laws, asserting they are designed to reduce gun violence and accidental shootings while respecting the rights of lawful gun owners. Virginia officials, led by Gov. Abigail Spanberger, have also defended their state's legislation, emphasizing its role in preventing gun violence and keeping certain firearms out of communities.

The Justice Department's efforts are informed by recent Supreme Court decisions, such as Wolford v. Lopez, which reaffirmed that the Second Amendment should not be considered a