With the state’s controversial new “Glock ban” measure set to take effect on July 1, California officials on Wednesday received a shot across the bow that they must have expected.
Department of Justice (DOJ) Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division Harmeet Dhillon sent an open letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) and State Attorney General Rob Bonta. Its message could not be clearer.
DOJ preparing to sue California officials for yet another 2A infringement
The AAG warned state leaders that the ban, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) last October, unconstitutionally infringes on the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear the arms of their choosing.
“Californians have the constitutional right to acquire and use state-of-the-art handguns to protect themselves,” Dhillon wrote in the open letter. “They should not be forced to settle for decade-old models of handguns to ensure that they remain safe inside or outside the home.”
The Second Amendment, as state lawmakers know well, protects the right to armed resistance against violent criminals. “Because handguns are the most popular weapon chosen by Americans for self-defense, a prohibition on their use is invalid,” Dhillon added.
California officials have a chance to avoid a costly legal battle
Lawmakers in California and elsewhere seek to outlaw immensely popular handguns that feature cruciform trigger bars. Criminals use so-called “Glock switches” to illegally convert the weapons to automatic capabilities.
Again, this act violates existing federal law and carries harsh punishments for those convicted. Just possessing one of these small switches can put the guilty party in federal prison for a decade and subject them to a fine of up to $250,000–even if it is not installed in a weapon.
Dhillon gave Sacramento officials a lifeline to “resolve this matter.”
“Although the specific provisions are open to discussion, a resolution must at a minimum require that the State (1) immediately cease enforcement of the laws identified…(2) acknowledge the unconstitutionality of these laws, and (3) agree to enter into a court-enforceable consent decree permanently enjoining the State from violating its citizens’ constitutional rights through these or any similar laws.”
If the state does not respond by June 30, Dhillon warned that the federal government “may file its complaint without further notice.”
California has company in its push to ban the highly popular Glock products, but its prohibition is the first on the schedule to be enforced. A successful DOJ challenge to the pending law would give pause to other states with similar schemes.
Dhillon also posted a message to Golden State lawmakers on X. “Tick tock! On July 1, CA plans to impose an unconstitutional ‘Glock Ban.’” She singled out Newsome and Bonta with her message to correct the Glock ban error, “or we will sue. Stay tuned!”
The open letter announced that the DOJ is also challenging California’s “handgun roster.”
This dubious law requires the weapons industry to submit its products to the State Department of Justice in hopes of obtaining approval for their sale in California. That statute faces a separate legal challenge.
The handgun roster remains in effect despite a federal judge’s injunction against its implementation. That’s due to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issuing a stay against the injunction, so, for now, Californians are only allowed to purchase firearms approved by the state.
Dhillon’s missive is part of a larger DOJ push to aggressively fight jurisdictions that suppress gun rights.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) received a similar letter in April concerning her state’s “assault weapon” and “large capacity magazine” prohibition.
Like California’s, Virginia’s statute takes effect on July 1. Without eleventh-hour conversions by two of the country’s most strident gun rights opponents, the DOJ will be busy heading into the historic Independence Day weekend.
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