DOJ Says Virgin Islands Replaced One Unconstitutional Gun-Control Regime With Another

Summary

The Justice Department (DOJ) argues that the Virgin Islands cannot dismiss a federal Second Amendment lawsuit by replacing its original unconstitutional licensing law with Act 9113, which introduces new gun control measures. In a July 29 opposition, the DOJ contended that Act 9113 creates additional constitutional violations and fails to address a broader pattern of police misconduct by the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) in the case *United States v. Government of the Virgin Islands*. The territory's officials now admit their former "proper reason" requirement for firearm licensing was unconstitutional under *Bruen*.