Full Breakdown
Trump DOJ Sues California and Virginia Over New Gun Restrictions
7/3/2026, 8:38:49 AM
Federal Lawsuits Challenge State Gun Laws
On July 1 2026 the U.S. Department of Justice filed separate civil actions in federal court against California and Virginia, alleging that each state’s newly enacted firearms restrictions violate the Second Amendment. The California suit targets a ban on the retail sale of Glock-style pistols and the state’s “handgun roster,” while the Virginia suit contests a law that prohibits the sale, manufacture, purchase, transfer and import of “assault firearms,” including AR-15-style rifles. Both complaints seek preliminary and permanent injunctions to halt enforcement.
State Laws at Issue
California’s Assembly Bill 1127 prohibits dealers from selling semiautomatic pistols that can be converted to fully automatic fire with “Glock switches.” The measure does not ban possession of existing guns and also expands the state’s handgun roster, a list that limits which models may be sold. Virginia’s Senate Bill 749 defines “assault firearms” by features such as detachable magazines, folding stocks and capacity over 15 rounds; violations are classified as Class 1 misdemeanors. Local judges have already blocked portions of the Virginia ban, but the statute remains on the books.
Key Actors
- Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General – leads the DOJ’s public statements.
- Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division – announced the lawsuits and promised to sue Virginia after Governor Spanberger’s signature.
- Gavin Newsom, Governor of California – signed the Glock ban; spokesperson Diana Crofts-Pelayo defends the law.
- Abigail Spanberger, Governor of Virginia – signed the assault-firearms ban; Jay Jones, Virginia Attorney General, calls the measure “commonsense.”
- Rob Bonta, California Attorney General – argues the state’s gun safety laws have driven firearm-death rates to record lows.
- Gun-rights groups including the NRA-ILA (John Commerford) and the California Rifle & Pistol Association (C.D. Michel) have praised the DOJ action.
Data on Firearms and Conversion Devices
- Glock pistols are among the most popular handguns nationwide; the DOJ characterizes the ban as targeting the “most popular type of handgun in America.”
- AR-15-style rifles are similarly widespread, with estimates of tens of millions in civilian hands.
- Federal investigators recovered 11,088 “Glock-switch” conversion devices from crime scenes between 2019 and 2023.
- California officials cite a decline to “record-low” firearm-death rates since implementing stricter gun laws.
Official Statements & Responses
The DOJ asserts that the statutes “trample” constitutional rights and are “presumptively unconstitutional” under recent Supreme Court precedent. California’s office counters that its regulations are “effective and constitutional” and have saved lives. Virginia’s attorneys argue the ban is a “commonsense” measure that protects communities and law-enforcement officers.
Criticism & Opposition
Gun-rights advocates argue the term “assault firearm” is a politically charged label rather than an industry standard, and they contend the bans punish law-abiding owners for the potential misuse of a minority of weapons. The NRA-ILA’s John Commerford praised the DOJ for defending the Second Amendment, while the California Rifle & Pistol Association’s C.D. Michel called the federal suit a necessary check on “gun-grabbers.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the current status of Virginia’s ban: some note it is already blocked by injunctions, others describe it as fully operative. The description of the California law varies, with some outlets emphasizing the “Glock ban” and others focusing on the broader handgun-roster challenge. The DOJ’s reliance on a civil-rights statute typically used against police misconduct is also contested.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The Constitution is not a suggestion, and the Second Amendment is not a second-class right,” — Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General
- “the Second Amendment is a sacred right belonging to all Americans, even those in California.” — Todd Blanche
- “The Civil Rights Division will defend law-abiding citizens from states that seek to disarm them illegally,” — Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General
- “California has proven that strong, evidence-based gun safety measures can reduce gun violence while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners.” — Diana Crofts-Pelayo, Spokesperson for Gov. Newsom
- “Time and time again, the Trump administration has stood strong and delivered on its promise: the Second Amendment will never again be treated as a second-class right,” — John Commerford, NRA-ILA Executive Director
Implications & Next Steps
The lawsuits arrive as the Supreme Court prepares to hear challenges to AR-15 bans, positioning the cases as potential precedents for nationwide gun-policy litigation. Both states have pledged to defend their statutes, setting the stage for a prolonged federal-state legal battle that could reshape the scope of permissible firearm regulation.
