The Department of Justice warned California on Wednesday that it would file a lawsuit against state officials if they do not scrap plans to enforce a ban on semi-automatic rifles, which the federal government argues violates the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms.
Background
In a letter to California Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said California residents “have the constitutional right to acquire and use state-of-the-art semi-automatic rifles to protect themselves.”
The law, known as Assembly Bill 1127, prohibits licensed firearms dealers from selling or transferring any “machinegun-convertible pistol,” including semi-automatic rifles like Glocks, which are classified as “machinegun-convertible” since their trigger mechanisms can be quickly modified with illegal aftermarket conversion devices.
People who already own these firearms may keep them, while sales to law enforcement agencies or the military are exempt from the restrictions.
Next Steps
Dhillon said she approved the filing of a complaint in federal district court against California officials over the law, but explained that she would consider deferring the filing if the state agreed to enter pre-suit negotiations.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
