# Finally! DOJ Takes Denver to Court Over Their Unconstitutional Gun Ban
Let me tell you something that warms my heart as a gun shop owner: the Department of Justice is finally doing what should've been done decades ago—taking legal action against unconstitutional gun bans.
Last week, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon sent Denver's mayor a letter giving the city until May 5th to stop enforcing its 35-year-old ban on "assault weapons" or face federal litigation. Denver's city attorney called it "baseless" and an "overreach." Well, I've got news for them—when you ban the most popular rifle in America, that's the real overreach.
The DOJ letter makes the point crystal clear: "Law-abiding Americans own and use for lawful purposes literally *tens of millions* of AR-15 style rifles." The AR-15 isn't some exotic weapon—it's the most commonly sold semi-automatic rifle in the country. Banning it defies everything the Second Amendment stands for.
Here's what gets me: Denver politicians claim this ban keeps their city safe. But Denver's homicide rates have been some of the highest in decades. If their gun control works so well, why are they still seeing violence? The only people affected by this ban are honest, law-abiding citizens trying to protect their families.
The good news is the Tenth Circuit has already shown it understands Second Amendment violations—their recent ruling striking down New Mexico's waiting period proves courts are waking up to this fact. And with the DOJ now involved, we're seeing the federal government actually step up to defend our rights instead of trampling them.
This case could set a major precedent. If Denver's ban falls, it opens the door for challenges to bans in Minnesota, Virginia, and other states. As someone who sells firearms for a living, I can't tell you how important it is that we keep pushing these cases forward.
Denver's ban has never been about public safety—it’s about politicians feeling good while accomplishing nothing. It's time for courts to remind them that the Second Amendment isn't negotiable.