Filed Date: Dec. 22, 2025
Case Ongoing
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On December 22, 2025, the United States brought suit against the District of Columbia; the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPD), and MPD Chief Jeffrey Carroll in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The United States challenged several of D.C.’s gun laws. Specifically, the US challenged D.C. Code § 7–2501.01, D.C. Code § 7-2502.02(a), and D.C. Code § 7-2501.01(3A)(A), which criminalized possession of firearms not registered with the MPD, designated certain categories of assault and semi-automatic rifles that may never be registered in D.C. or lawfully possessed.
The United States alleged that these gun laws violated the Second Amendment because, as the Supreme Court held in Heller and Bruen, law-abiding citizens have a constitutional right to possess a “firearm in the home operable for the purpose of immediate self-defense,” and this right extends to those arms that are “in common use today.” It further argued that the weapons included in D.C.’s ban, including AR-15 rifles and a variety of other semi-automatic rifles and pistols, are “in common use today.” The complaint alleged that the D.C. Defendants violated 34 U.S.C. § 12601 via an unconstitutional pattern or practice of preventing possession of firearms protected under the Second Amendment by law-abiding citizens for lawful purposes. The United States seeks declaratory and injunctive relief to prevent D.C. officials from denying enforcing these gun laws and “prohibiting all DC Defendants from arresting and levying fines against otherwise law-abiding citizens for possessing the AR-15 and all other firearms protected by the Second Amendment and being possessed or used for lawful purposes.”
The case is ongoing.
Summary Authors
Madena Mustafa (2/4/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72065418/parties/united-states-v-district-of-columbia/
Mehta, Amit Priyavadan (District of Columbia)
Darlington, Andrew (District of Columbia)
Dolin, Gregory (District of Columbia)
Fulk, Austin (District of Columbia)
Hanrahan, William Hanrahan (District of Columbia)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72065418/united-states-v-district-of-columbia/
Last updated Feb. 23, 2026, 12:12 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Litigation and Investigations By the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Dec. 22, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The United States
Plaintiff Type(s):
Non-DOJ federal government plaintiff
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
District of Columbia (District of Columbia), City
Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (District of Columbia), City
Jeffrey Carroll (District of Columbia), City
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Violent Crime and Law Enforcement Act, 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (previously 42 U.S.C. § 14141)
Constitutional Clause(s):
Second Amendment (Right to Bear Arms)
Other Dockets:
District of District of Columbia 1:25-cv-04458
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.: