WASHINGTON, DC (July 3, 2024) –  Today, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced the filing of a new federal Second Amendment lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, challenging Washington, D.C.’s ban on so-called “assault weapons”, which prohibits the possession of common semi-automatic firearms. The case is captioned Clemendor v. District of Columbia. The complaint, along with all other case details and documents, can be accessed at FPCLegal.org.

“People in Washington, D.C. have a right to keep and bear semiautomatic weapons like AR-15 rifles,” said FPC President Brandon Combs. “As we have already shown, laws like the District of Columbia's ban on so-called 'assault weapons' are unconstitutional. Bureaucrats and political celebrities aren't above the law, and the District is not exempt from following the Constitution. FPC looks forward to restoring liberty in our nation's capital.”

“Semiautomatic firearms ‘traditionally have been widely accepted as lawful possessions,’” FPC’s complaint states, citing Justice Sotomayor’s Cargill dissent. “And the D.C. Circuit has previously held ‘it is clear enough…that semi-automatic rifles and magazines holding more than ten rounds are indeed in ‘common use.’”

With this challenge, FPC seeks a declaration that the acquisition and possession of semiautomatic firearms banned by Washinton, D.C., are protected by the Second Amendment and that all enforcement of the ban––and all related regulations, policies, and/or customs designed to enforce or implement the same––is blocked.

As part of its high-impact FPC Law strategic litigation program to eliminate disarmament regimes and restore the natural right to keep and bear arms, FPC’s challenge to the District’s ban on constitutionally protected arms is now its ninth challenge to such bans from coast to coast.

FPC is joined in this case by two individual FPC members. The Plaintiffs are represented by Fluet Law.

Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit membership organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutional rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. We work to achieve our strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs. Our FPC Law program (FPCLaw.org) is the nation’s preeminent legal action initiative focused on restoring the right to keep and bear arms throughout the United States. Individuals who want to support FPC’s work to eliminate unconstitutional laws can join the FPC Grassroots Army at JoinFPC.org or make a donation at firearmspolicy.org/donate. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook, YouTube.