In a move that’s got the gun rights world buzzing, the Trump-era Department of Justice has thrown its weight behind plaintiffs challenging Massachusetts’ notorious handgun roster—a draconian list that essentially blacklists most modern handguns from sale in the Bay State. Filing an amicus brief in *Capen v. Campbell*, the DOJ argues the roster violates the Supreme Court’s landmark *Bruen* decision (2022), which demands that gun laws align with the Second Amendment’s historical traditions. No more arbitrary safety checklists rigged by bureaucrats; Massachusetts’ scheme, which excludes guns based on subjective features like magazine disconnects or loaded chamber indicators, gets shredded under *Bruen*’s text-and-history test. This isn’t just legalese—it’s a direct shot at may-issue permitting and roster regimes that choke off self-defense options for law-abiding citizens.
Context matters here: Massachusetts’ roster, born from the 1998 Gun Control Act amendments, mirrors failed experiments in states like California and New Jersey, where approved handgun lists dwindle to a handful of outdated models (think: no Glock 19s or Sig P365s for most folks). Post-*Bruen*, courts have been dismantling these barriers—New Jersey’s roster bit the dust in 2023, and now the feds are piling on. The DOJ’s brief cleverly invokes historical analogs, noting that Founding-era laws never micromanaged handgun designs like Mass does, equating the roster to unconstitutional prior restraint on arms. It’s a masterclass in *Bruen* application, signaling to deep-blue states that their public safety fig leaf won’t fly.
For the 2A community, the implications are electric: a win could torch rosters nationwide, flooding markets with innovative, compact carry guns and forcing states to justify every restriction with dusty 1791 precedents. Gun owners in roster hell (CA, NJ, etc.) should cheer—this DOJ stance, even if filed under Trump, underscores *Bruen*’s staying power against activist judges. Expect ripple effects; if Mass folds, it’s domino time for the antis. Stay vigilant, stock up where you can, and keep the pressure on—victory is loading.
