The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday filed a civil rights lawsuit against the Virgin Islands Police Department, alleging unconstitutional practices that led to the denial and delay of gun permit applications. The suit, brought by the department’s Civil Rights Division, claims authorities imposed unreasonable conditions—such as requiring bolted-in gun safes—and failed to process applications in a timely manner, effectively infringing on Second Amendment rights.
The case marks the first major action by the Justice Department’s newly created unit focused exclusively on gun rights, established after President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to review potential infringements on constitutional protections for firearm ownership. The lawsuit cites a 2022 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that strengthened Second Amendment protections and argues that the Virgin Islands has failed to comply with that precedent. It is the division’s second civil rights action related to gun rights, following similar scrutiny of concealed-carry permit delays in Los Angeles County.
Virgin Islands officials said they are reviewing the lawsuit. A spokesman for Governor Albert Bryan Jr. stated that the government takes the allegations seriously and is coordinating with the Virgin Islands Police Department to address the claims through the legal process, while balancing constitutional rights with public safety.
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