Trump DOJ threatens Denver assault weapons ban — Illinois implications

AURORA, IL — The Trump DOJ just fired a warning shot at Denver over their so-called "assault weapons" ban, and every Illinois gun owner should be paying attention. Acting Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon — the same lawyer who argued our case at the Seventh Circuit — sent a letter demanding Denver repeal their rifle ban or face federal litigation.

This isn't just another city fight. This is the federal government picking fights with local gun bans using the same constitutional arguments we've been making in Bevis v. Naperville for years.

What Harmeet Dhillon told Denver about assault weapons bans

The DOJ's letter to Denver pulls no punches. Dhillon argues that banning commonly owned firearms violates the Second Amendment under Bruen — the exact same argument she made when the DOJ filed an amicus brief supporting us against Illinois' PICA ban.

Denver's response? They're refusing to budge, just like Illinois politicians did when we challenged PICA. The city claims their ban is "constitutional" and they'll defend it in court.

Sound familiar? That's exactly what Naperville said. That's what Illinois said. And now the federal government is calling these bans what they are: unconstitutional restrictions on commonly owned firearms.

Why this matters for Illinois gun owners right now

Customers walk into my shop in Aurora every day asking when Illinois' rifle ban will be struck down. This DOJ action against Denver shows the federal government is done playing defense on Second Amendment issues.

The legal theory is identical. If you can't ban AR-15s in Denver because they're commonly owned, you can't ban them in Illinois either. The Seventh Circuit judges who heard our case know this — they pressed Illinois hard on exactly this point during oral argument.

"A firearm that can't function as designed is not a meaningful right. That's true whether you're in Denver or Aurora."

What's changed is the federal government's position. Under the previous administration, we were fighting both state and federal opposition. Now the DOJ is actively challenging these bans using our arguments.

Denver defies federal pressure — just like Illinois politicians

Denver's mayor announced they won't repeal their ban, setting up another federal court fight over rifle restrictions. This mirrors exactly what happened when Illinois passed PICA despite knowing it violated Bruen.

The difference now is resources and momentum. The Trump administration has the federal government's full weight behind these challenges. They're not asking politely — they're threatening lawsuits and using language that sounds like it came straight from our briefs in the Seventh Circuit.

Illinois politicians are watching Denver carefully. If the federal government wins there, the pressure on Illinois to repeal PICA will be enormous.

What comes next for the Bevis case and Illinois PICA ban

As of May 5, 2026, we're still waiting on the Seventh Circuit's decision in our case. But this DOJ action against Denver shows the federal government isn't waiting for appellate courts to act slowly.

If Denver doesn't repeal their ban, expect federal litigation within weeks. If the DOJ wins there — or if the Seventh Circuit rules in our favor — Illinois' PICA ban becomes legally indefensible under identical reasoning.

The constitutional analysis is the same whether you're talking about Denver's ordinance or Illinois' state law. Both ban commonly owned firearms. Both fail Bruen's historical test. Both treat law-abiding citizens like criminals for owning standard firearms.

From where I stand behind the counter at Law Weapons, watching customers navigate Illinois' unconstitutional restrictions every day, this DOJ action feels like the beginning of the end for these rifle bans. The federal government finally has our back.

We keep watching. We keep fighting. And we keep serving the people who refuse to be treated like second-class citizens for exercising a constitutional right.

— Robert Bevis, Law Weapons & Supply