Justice Department sues Virginia and California over gun limits

The U. S. Department of Justice filed separate lawsuits against the states of Virginia and California, alleging that their newly adopted gun-control measures violate the Second Amendment, CBS News reported. The suits target Virginia’s ban on AR-15-style rifles and California’s restrictions on certain pistols, which the Justice Department says exceed constitutional limits.

In the filings, the department argued that the state laws infringe on lawful gun ownership rights protected by the Constitution. The lawsuits were announced publicly by the Justice Department as part of its effort to challenge state regulations it deems unconstitutional. Both cases were lodged in federal court, where the government seeks judicial review of the contested statutes.