DC Police Sued for Blocking Lawful Firearm Registration, Including AR-15s [WATCH]

The Civil Rights Division’s Second Amendment section has filed what officials describe as a landmark lawsuit against the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., challenging the department’s refusal to register certain lawful firearms for residents of the district.

The lawsuit targets the District of Columbia’s prohibition on registering an entire category of firearms commonly labeled as assault rifles, including the AR-15, which is widely owned across the United States.

According to the filing, the policy prevents law-abiding citizens from registering firearms that are otherwise legal under federal law, effectively barring possession within the district.

The legal action was announced by Harmeet Dhillon, who said the case marks the beginning of a broader effort by the Civil Rights Division to confront firearm restrictions it views as inconsistent with the Second Amendment.

“Hi. I’m here with an important update from the Civil Rights Division, Second Amendment section, which today filed a landmark lawsuit against the DC Metro Police Department for its refusal to register lawful firearms of law abiding citizens here in the district, namely the entire category of so called assault rifles, including the nation’s most popular rifle, the AR 15, are not permitted for registration here in the district, and our lawsuit will put a stop to that,” Dhillon said.

The lawsuit focuses on the District’s registration system, which requires residents to register firearms with local authorities.

Under current policy, the Metropolitan Police Department does not permit the registration of firearms it classifies as assault rifles, regardless of whether the owner is otherwise eligible to possess a firearm.

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The complaint argues that this approach unlawfully blocks residents from exercising their rights by refusing to process registrations for a broad class of commonly owned firearms.

Dhillon said the case reflects a shift in enforcement priorities within the Civil Rights Division under Attorney General Pam Bondi.

She indicated that the lawsuit against the District of Columbia is not an isolated action but part of a larger strategy to address similar restrictions in other jurisdictions.

“We’re just getting started here in the Civil Rights Division under Attorney General Pam bondi’s leadership, there are many more important lawsuits planned to take aim at restrictions on our lawful Second Amendment rights throughout the country,” Dhillon said.

The announcement signals that the Civil Rights Division intends to play a more active role in Second Amendment litigation, particularly in areas where state or local governments impose categorical limits on firearm ownership.

By focusing on registration practices rather than individual criminal cases, the lawsuit seeks to challenge regulatory systems that, according to the division, function as de facto bans on commonly owned firearms.

The AR-15, referenced directly in the lawsuit, is among the most popular rifles in the United States and is legal to own under federal law.

Supporters of the lawsuit argue that prohibitions on registering such firearms in the District of Columbia place residents at a disadvantage compared to citizens in other parts of the country and conflict with constitutional protections.

The case is being closely watched by legal observers because it could establish a precedent for how federal civil rights authorities address local firearm regulations.

If successful, the lawsuit could compel changes to registration policies in the District and influence similar challenges elsewhere.

Dhillon concluded her announcement by addressing the timing of the filing during the holiday season.

“Stay tuned and everyone have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,” she said.

WATCH:

This @CivilRights and @AGPamBondi are taking aim at unlawful restrictions nationwide, including today in our backyard at the District of Columbia! pic.twitter.com/nhxG7bUZsK

— AAGHarmeetDhillon (@AAGDhillon) December 22, 2025