Weekly Spotlight 12/8/25 – 12/14/25
Justice Department Officially Stands Up New Section on Protecting 2A Rights
This week, Department of Justice (DOJ) official Harmeet Dhillon announced the creation of a new section dedicated specifically to Second Amendment issues — a notable shift in how the federal government approaches gun rights in the post-Bruen era.
Until now, the momentum in shaping Second Amendment law has largely come from individual plaintiffs, advocacy organizations, and state officials. By establishing a dedicated unit, the DOJ is signaling that it intends to play a far more active role in defining what the right to keep and bear arms means in practice for Americans nationwide.
The new enforcement section is designed to bring coherence and consistency to the DOJ’s response to the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision. Rather than leaving Second Amendment questions to whichever trial team happens to pick up a case, the department will now rely on a specialized group tasked with monitoring state and local laws, assessing how they stand under Bruen, and determining when to intervene with amicus briefs or statements of interest. The unit will also provide guidance to U.S. Attorneys and federal agencies on how to enforce Second Amendment–related laws in ways that align with evolving Supreme Court precedent.
This move reflects a long-overdue recognition that the Second Amendment merits the same sustained institutional attention the DOJ already devotes to voting rights and other civil rights. We urge the department to fully utilize this new section and the influence it carries.
Ultimately, how this unit chooses to interpret Bruen’s historical test, which state and local laws it supports or challenges, and whether it is willing to confront post-Bruen “workarounds” — such as broad sensitive-place restrictions — will matter far more than the mere creation of the office. What’s clear for now is that the federal government no longer plans to sit on the sidelines of the Second Amendment debate. The promised “lot more action” is poised to shape the next chapter of gun-rights litigation.
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OTHER NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
The Truth About Guns: Federal Grant Will Fund National 2A Curriculum For High School Teachers
A federal grant from the Trump Administration’s Department of Education is earmarked for developing a national program that will provide secondary school teachers with nonpartisan, historically grounded content on the origins, legal interpretation and civic implications of the Second Amendment. The Firearms Research Center in the University of Wyoming’s College of Law received the nearly $1 million grant to fund “Armed with Knowledge: A Nonpartisan Second Amendment Initiative,” which aims to fill a gap in contemporary civics curricula, furnishing educators with resources and tools to better understand the historical context and have modern discussions about the Second Amendment.
KOTA ABC (South Dakota): Governor Rhoden Working With State Senator Crabtree To Deregulate Suppressors In South Dakota
An effort is underway to deregulate suppressors in South Dakota. Governor Rhoden and State Senator Casey Crabtree will be working to remove suppressors from the list of controlled weapons in South Dakota. Removing suppressors from the state’s controlled weapons list would still mean they are regulated under federal law and purchasers would still need to go through background checks on other measures. Rhoden’s office says however the step sends a message of support to further deregulate the parts at the federal level. South Dakota NRA State Director Brian Gosch says he agrees with that sentiment. Gosch added during a phone call on Tuesday, “Suppressors are all about hearing protection.”
FOX News: DOJ Promises ‘A Lot More Action’ On Gun Rights With New Second Amendment Enforcement Section
Department of Justice (DOJ) official Harmeet Dhillon announced that her agency is unveiling a gun rights-focused section on Monday, promising Americans that “a lot more action” on gun rights enforcement will be taken. Dhillon, who works as an assistant attorney general for the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, said that her division had started a Second Amendment section this month. “I’m really excited about this,” said Dhillon. “For the first time, the DOJ Civil Rights Division and the DOJ at large will be protecting and advancing our citizens’ right to bear arms as part of our civil rights work.”
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Hawaii): Letter: SCOTUS Can Stop State’s Gun Rights Sidestepping
The U.S. Supreme Court has said that it will take up the latest Hawaii gun rights case and consider striking down a strict regulation on where people can carry firearms. The court will consider Hawaii’s law that bans handguns on private property, including businesses, unless the owner has specifically allowed them. Hawaii has fought against allowing its citizens to embrace their Second Amendment rights for over the 60-plus years I’ve watched. They ignore rulings, contradict common sense, and when forced to follow, they pass so many extra rules as to make it almost impossible. In fact, one Hawaii Supreme Court justice ruled the state Constitution does not protect an individual’s right to carry firearms in public, even if it says, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
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