When the U.S. Supreme Court recently agreed to hear two important challenges to “assault weapon” bans, Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins, Second Amendment groups were emboldened to increase the legal heat against these unconstitutional prohibitions.
The Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), the Colorado State Shooting Association (CSSA), and three individuals filed a federal suit targeting anti-gun laws in Denver and the state of Colorado. The plaintiffs began their challenge on the same day SCOTUS accepted the gun rights case.
The city bans popular sporting rifles, misnamed as “assault weapons,” and both the municipal government and Colorado prohibit magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds.
Law-abiding Colorado citizens continue to be denied fundamental rights
Kolby Zipperer, CSSA vice president, released a statement explaining the motivation behind taking this legal challenge to federal court.
“Every day these bans remain on the books, law-abiding Coloradans are denied their fundamental right to keep and bear arms that are in common use across the country,” Zipperer said. “The courts—not politicians in Denver—will decide whether the Second Amendment means what it says.”
The pushback was immediate and predictable.
Denver mayor claps back at legal challenge to city’s gun ban
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston (D) defied gun rights supporters by doubling down on forbidding law-abiding citizens from owning the most popular sporting rifles in the U.S.
“We will not be intimidated out of keeping Denver safe, least of all by this president and the NRA,” Johnston declared. “This law saves lives, and we will fight to keep it in place and keep assault weapons off our streets.”
Denver authorities already face a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit filed in May. The DOJ warned the mayor that the ban on semi-automatic weapons was illegal, and his negative response drew quick legal action.
Still, Johnston continued his appeal to his base by blasting Washington for even suggesting the Second Amendment applies to his city’s residents.
With the SCOTUS decision to hear challenges to “assault weapon” bans and the newly aggressive DOJ, there are interesting days ahead for the shooting public.
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