The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the Virgin Islands Police Department for unconstitutionally denying gun permits. 

In a press release last week, U.S. Attorney Adam F. Sleeper said the department filed the complaint because the territory is enforcing unreasonable delays and conditions that violate lawful gun owners’ rights. 

The move comes in response to numerous complaints from applicants claiming the VIPD was denying their permits under unreasonable conditions, which include requirements such as bolted-in gun safes. Additionally, the island’s law enforcement authorities are upholding a “proper-cause requirement” that is nearly identical to the one overturned by the 2022 Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen.

“This Civil Rights Division will protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. “The newly-established Second Amendment Section filed this lawsuit to bring the Virgin Islands Police Department back into legal compliance by ensuring that applicants receive timely decisions without unconstitutional obstruction.”

The newly minted Second Amendment Rights Section of Trump’s DOJ opened on Dec. 4, with a mandate that it would be "dedicated to investigating local laws or policies limiting gun rights." DOJ asserts that the U.S. Virgin Islands fall squarely within the realm of established U.S. law. 

That includes the Supreme Court’s ruling on “proper cause” requirements as unconstitutional in the State of New York. 

It’s worth noting that the state of New York also thumbed its nose at the court’s ruling, initially. This prompted further court action that resulted in a temporary restraining order against the Empire State.