Justice Department Forms Unit to Enforce Second Amendment Rights in Civil Rights Division

The Justice Department has formed a new special unit to investigate violations of gun rights, according to NPR reported on May 14, 2026 at 4:57 PM ET. The unit, operating within the department's civil rights division, is already suing cities and states with gun control laws that may be vulnerable after recent Supreme Court rulings.

NPR reported that the DOJ's civil rights division is investigating gun rights violations.

The segment aired on All Things Considered and was reported by Martin Kaste. It ran for 3 minutes and 53 seconds. The new special unit marks a shift in how the Justice Department approaches Second Amendment civil rights cases.

Its lawsuits target local and state restrictions, building on Supreme Court decisions that have expanded gun rights interpretations in recent years. The NPR report detailed how the unit identifies gun control measures potentially open to legal challenge. Officials have not released a full list of ongoing cases or targeted jurisdictions.

The effort consolidates work previously spread across different sections of the civil rights division. Martin Kaste's reporting on All Things Considered provided the first public details of the unit's creation and early actions. The broadcast included analysis of how the initiative aligns with broader priorities at the Justice Department under the current administration.

The civil rights division's focus on gun rights violations represents a reversal from prior emphases on other civil rights enforcement areas. No specific lawsuits were named in the May 14 report. Further details on the unit's structure or leadership were not disclosed.