DOJ Defends Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Post-Highland Park Shooting

The U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump has entered legal challenges concerning gun regulations, notably opposing Illinois' assault weapons ban enacted after the 2022 Highland Park mass shooting. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon defended the DOJ's position before the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, emphasizing the importance of protecting the Second Amendment as a fundamental right and rejecting claims that the banned firearms are primarily military in nature. However, Judge Frank Easterbrook questioned Dhillon's dismissal of factual findings favoring the state's position, highlighting tensions over the role of facts in constitutional analysis. Concurrently, the DOJ has highlighted significant disagreement among federal appeals courts regarding the federal ban on firearm possession by marijuana users, urging the Supreme Court to address these inconsistencies. This reflects the Trump administration's broader efforts to challenge state and federal gun control measures amid ongoing judicial debates. The cases illustrate a complex legal landscape where courts grapple with balancing gun rights and regulatory interests, with potential for Supreme Court intervention.