The Assistant Attorney General, Harmeet Dhillon, recently asserted that the Supreme Court is likely to rule in favor of legalizing AR-15-style rifles nationwide. This statement follows a lawsuit filed by the Trump Administration against Denver, claiming that the city’s ban on "assault rifles" infringes upon the Second Amendment rights of its citizens. The lawsuit argues that the ban is unnecessary given that AR-15-style rifles are the most popular semi-automatic firearms in the U.S. Dhillon pointed to previous Supreme Court rulings, specifically mentioning the importance of the rifles being in common use for law-abiding citizens. The DOJ’s focus on Denver is significant, as it intends to tackle similar bans in other jurisdictions, insisting that the rights of Denver’s citizens must mirror those of Americans elsewhere.
Moreover, the article highlights the widespread use of AR-15s in mass shootings, raising questions about the appropriateness of calling such weapons "assault rifles." Critics argue that this terminology is misleading, and they stress that semi-automatic firearms like the AR-15s should be differentiated from select-fire weapons. Despite the debates surrounding the effectiveness of AR-15s for self-defense, some pistol owners still believe in their use for personal protection. The article discusses how retail gun sellers notice an influx in AR-15 purchases, yet comments from experts suggest that the practicality of these firearms for home defense could be overstated.