In a groundbreaking announcement that surprised both ends of the political spectrum, Harmeet Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, publicly committed to defending Second Amendment rights as a core civil rights issue. In a recent appearance on the Glenn Beck podcast, Dhillon revealed a new DOJ initiative aimed squarely at challenging unconstitutional state laws that erode the right to bear arms.
This marks a bold shift for the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, which has rarely treated the Second Amendment with the same vigor it applies to First or Fourteenth Amendment protections.
William of Copper Jacket TV Breaks the Story
YouTube gun rights advocate William, host of Copper Jacket TV, highlighted the significance of Dhillon’s announcement in a recent video. William, who previously covered a DOJ investigation into Los Angeles County’s concealed carry delays, said this new project signals a potentially historic reversal in how federal authorities approach state-level gun control.
“Harmeet Dhillon is saying something I’ve never heard a politician say,” William noted. “She’s treating the Second Amendment as an equal, legitimate civil right – and she’s calling out states like California, New York, and Colorado by name.”
The Second Amendment as a Civil Right
Dhillon made it clear that the Civil Rights Division is pivoting to treat the Second Amendment as what it truly is: a civil liberty protected by the U.S. Constitution. “Who’s protecting the Second Amendment in the federal government?” she asked rhetorically. “Prior Republican administrations haven’t paid a lot of attention to affirmatively doing that.”
According to Dhillon, recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings, including New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, have set clear constitutional standards. Yet many state legislatures continue to undermine those rulings with laws that, in effect, nullify the high court’s decisions.
California, New York, and Colorado in the Crosshairs
In her interview, Dhillon didn’t hesitate to name specific offenders. She pointed to California’s permit process, where concealed carry applicants are often forced to wait months just to schedule an interview, assuming the issuing agency is even staffed to begin with. She also cited New York’s patchwork of firearm laws, where rural upstate counties operate under different restrictions than heavily regulated New York City.
Dhillon also called out Colorado for recently passing what she described as “extremely onerous” laws that place financial and bureaucratic burdens on lawful gun ownership.
DOJ’s Civil Rights Division: A Sleeping Giant Awakened?
William underscored how rare it is for the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division to address Second Amendment concerns at all, let alone spearhead a project aimed at actively challenging infringements. “For the last hundred years, the 2A has been treated like a second-class right,” he said. “We’ve had the NFA, the GCA, and a flood of other restrictions, and no federal agency really stepped in to stop them.”
This new approach could mark a sea change. While the DOJ has historically pursued cases related to voting rights, police misconduct, and housing discrimination, it has seldom framed gun rights as a protected civil liberty in need of federal enforcement.
The Los Angeles County Case as a Prototype
William pointed out that the DOJ has already taken a shot across the bow, investigating the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for excessive CCW permit wait times. That action may have been a test run for what’s coming next: a systematic challenge to delays, bans, fees, and bureaucratic hurdles across the country that defy Supreme Court precedent.
Dhillon confirmed that the issue is personal. “I came to D.C. as a firearms owner,” she said, noting the difficulty she encountered simply trying to get an appointment with local authorities. “It’s months before I can even meet with the chief of police just to apply to exercise my Second Amendment rights.”
Targeting State-Level Legal Loopholes
What makes this initiative especially important is that it strikes at the strategy currently favored by anti-gun organizations. Groups like Everytown for Gun Safety and Giffords have shifted their focus to state legislatures, where local supermajorities, especially in deep-blue states, can enact laws that the federal government may never dream of passing.
By directly intervening in these state-level tactics, the DOJ may finally provide a counterweight to years of unopposed legislative overreach. “If we can have the DOJ actively go after these infringements and attempt to overturn them, that would be a very powerful force,” William said.
Real Enforcement or Just Rhetoric?
Skeptics will understandably ask: is this just political posturing, or will the DOJ actually follow through? Dhillon appears serious. Her comments were not vague gestures but a direct call to challenge existing laws in federal court. “We will be working together to make this a focus,” she promised.
If successful, this initiative could reshape the legal landscape for gun rights. Instead of waiting years for lawsuits to crawl through the judicial system, affected citizens may soon find a powerful ally in the DOJ itself.
Can the DOJ Really Make a Difference?
The implications of federal involvement are enormous. In states like California and New York, where gun rights advocates have little political representation, the courts have often been the only refuge. But litigation is costly, time-consuming, and uncertain.
With the weight of the Civil Rights Division behind them, Second Amendment challenges may gain both legitimacy and speed. “If they actually get something done, I’ll be really impressed,” William admitted. “We’ve needed this kind of help for a long time.”
A Cultural Shift at the Federal Level?
For years, the Second Amendment was the only civil right that the government seemed eager to regulate rather than protect. Dhillon’s appointment and this new project could signal a cultural shift inside federal institutions.
And while it’s far too early to declare victory, it’s at least a step toward correcting a long-standing imbalance in how rights are treated. The Constitution doesn’t list the Second Amendment last, nor does it qualify it with asterisks. It’s high time it was treated with the same seriousness as any other right.
A Welcome Surprise
As William put it, “You just don’t hear politicians talk like this.” Harmeet Dhillon’s project may be one of the most significant developments in the gun rights space in years, not because it promises new laws, but because it seeks to defend the ones we already have.
If her Civil Rights Division can hold states accountable for defying the Supreme Court and violating the Constitution, then the Department of Justice might just become an unlikely, but desperately needed, ally in the fight for the Second Amendment.
A former park ranger and wildlife conservationist, Lisa’s passion for survival started with her deep connection to nature. Raised on a small farm in northern Wisconsin, she learned how to grow her own food, raise livestock, and live off the land. Lisa is our dedicated Second Amendment news writer and also focuses on homesteading, natural remedies, and survival strategies. Lisa aims to help others live more sustainably and prepare for the unexpected.