On May 5, 2026, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston didn’t hold back. Facing a letter from the U.S. Department of Justice that threatened legal action unless the city dropped enforcement of its long-standing restrictions on certain firearms, Johnston delivered a blunt two-word response: “Hell no.”
“We’re here today to let them know that our answer is ‘Hell no,’” Johnston said. “There are too many Coloradans we’ve had to say goodbye to in too many places because of the impact of assault weapons.”
This isn’t some new policy cooked up yesterday. Denver’s ordinance dates back to 1989 — nearly four decades on the books. It doesn’t ban all semi-automatic rifles or pistols outright. Instead, it makes it illegal to carry, store, keep, manufacture, or sell weapons that meet the city’s definition of an “assault weapon.” A big trigger point? Semiautomatic firearms paired with magazines holding more than 15 rounds.
What the Law Actually Does (and Doesn’t)
As Huey Laugesen, executive director of the Colorado State Shooting Association, explained: “If I go buy an AR-15 and then put a magazine in it that can hold more than 15 rounds, then it definitely would be banned.”
To gun rights advocates, even that capacity restriction crosses a constitutional line. Laugesen called the ordinance unconstitutional “whichever way you spin it” and said his group helped push the DOJ to act after meeting with acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.
DOJ Files Suit – The Fight Is On
True to its word, the Justice Department didn’t wait long. On Tuesday, it filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Denver, arguing the ordinance unconstitutionally bans certain semi-automatic rifles that are “in common use” and protected by the Second Amendment.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon put it this way:
“Law-abiding Americans, regardless of what city or state they reside in, should not have to live under threat of criminal sanction just for exercising their Second Amendment right to possess arms which are owned by tens of millions of their fellow citizens.”
City Councilwoman Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez fired back that Denver won’t back down: “If this ban is threatened in court, we will not stand by.”
Why This Story Matters Right Now
This clash pits local control against federal Second Amendment enforcement. Denver leaders point to lives saved and community values. Gun rights groups see it as government overreach that criminalizes everyday firearms and standard-capacity magazines.
It also comes at a time when Denver has celebrated a sharp drop in homicides — something Mayor Johnston’s office has highlighted as evidence that local measures are working.
Both sides are dug in and ready for court. The case could shape how cities and states handle “assault weapon” style restrictions moving forward, especially under the current administration’s new Second Amendment Section in the Civil Rights Division.
The Bottom Line: One mayor’s “Hell no” has escalated into a full federal lawsuit. Whether you see this as protecting public safety or defending constitutional rights, the courtroom battle will likely set precedents that ripple well beyond Colorado’s borders.
