DOJ Challenges Colorado's Decade-Old Gun Magazine Ban in Second Amendment Lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the state of Colorado on Wednesday, challenging a gun control law that has been in effect for over a decade. The legal action targets House Bill 13-1224, which Colorado passed in 2013 following a mass shooting at an Aurora movie theater that killed 12 people and injured 70 others.

The law prohibits the sale, transfer, and possession of magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds of ammunition within state borders. This lawsuit represents the second time this week that the Trump administration has taken legal action against Colorado’s efforts to reduce gun violence. On Tuesday, the DOJ filed a similar challenge against the city of Denver over a 1989 local law banning assault weapons.

The DOJ argues that both laws infringe upon the Second Amendment right to bear arms. In its complaint, the agency criticized the state’s use of the term “large capacity,” calling it “politically charged rhetoric.” The DOJ further contended that a 15-round magazine should be considered “standard capacity,” particularly given the widespread ownership of semiautomatic firearms such as the AR-15.

According to data from the Gun Violence Archive, mass shootings in the U.S. have surged in 2024, with 145 incidents reported in the first five months of the year alone. These shootings resulted in 185 fatalities and 561 injuries.

The AR-15 rifle, often described as a “civilian-killing machine,” has become a symbol of America’s gun violence epidemic. Colin Dickey, writing for The New Republic, described the weapon as “designed to extinguish human lives,” referencing its origins as Eugene Stoner’s 1954 invention. Initially rejected by the U.S. military, the AR-15 later gained popularity in civilian markets, becoming the best-selling rifle in America.

Approximately one-third of Americans own a firearm, according to a 2022 Ipsos poll. Of those, about 5%—roughly one in 20 U.S. adults—own an AR-15, as reported by a Washington Post/Ipsos survey from the same year. The modular design of the AR-15 has made it a weapon of choice in mass shootings, with at least 10 of the 17 deadliest incidents in U.S. history involving the rifle.

Despite claims by some Republicans that restrictions on the AR-15 infringe on the rights of rural Americans, data shows that most owners are not from rural areas. 48% of AR-15 owners live in suburban areas, while 24% reside in cities. Additionally, AR-15 owners tend to have higher incomes, with 56% earning more than $100,000 annually.