U.S. Virgin Islands Propose Draconian Anti-Gun Bill Targeting ‘Assault Rifles’

AmmoLand ^ | October 9, 2025 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

The United States Virgin Islands legislature is considering a bill that imposes extreme infringements on rights protected by the Second Amendment. The Bill is number 36-0144, which amends chapter 13 of the Virgin Islands Code Title 14. From legvi.org:

Lawmakers considered Bill No. 36-0144, an act amending Title 14 Virgin Islands Code, chapter 113 to define and prohibit assault rifles, ban suppressors and silencers, and requiring safety training for licensed rifles and shotgun holders, prohibiting large-capacity magazines and preventing the illegal sales of firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition.

The Attorney General of the U.S. Virgin Islands is Gordon C. Rhea, Esq. Rhea was sworn into office about ten days before President Trump was elected in 2024.  Rhea has been a member of the Virgin Islands bar for more than 40 years. From legvi.org:

Gordon C. Rhea, Esq., Attorney General of the United States Virgin Islands also spoke in favor of the proposed measure. Rhea stated firearms have had a significant role in criminal activities in the territory and emphasised the fact that the firearms are not made in the Virgin Islands, stating that most firearms are either legally or illegally imported into the territory.

The U.S. Virgin Islands already has what this correspondent considers the most restrictive firearms laws in the United States. The U.S. Virgin Islands also have one of the highest homicide rates in the world. It is impossible to legally own a firearm in the territory without permission from the governing authorities.

These laws are already considered unconstitutional. They only continue to exist because no legal challenges have been brought in federal courts. Challenging a law’s constitutionality is very expensive and time-consuming.

In January 2025, the Governor of the Virgin Islands, Albert Bryan Jr., stated that the U.S. Virgin Islands’ firearm laws have

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TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: ban; banglist; bill; rifle; vi; virginislands

[marktwain]

[FLT-bird]

All blatantly unconstitutional.

[Made In The USA]

“The U.S. Virgin Islands also have one of the highest homicide rates in the world. It is impossible to legally own a firearm in the territory without permission from the governing authorities.”

Makes complete sense. You certainly wouldn’t want to lose the top spot on the list by allowing people to defend themselves. Go team!

[Wilderness Conservative]

Just outlaw black people from owning them since they are the ones doing all the killing.

[dljordan]

“Challenging a law’s constitutionality is very expensive and time-consuming.”

That’s what the grabbers count on.

[Magnum44]

Why would the Federal government (DOJ) not challenge the laws constitutionality? They do that in the upper 48 all the time.

[reed13k]

“... firearms are not made in the Virgin Islands, stating that most firearms are either legally or illegally imported into the territory.”

So.....wouldn’t that mean all firearms are imported? and if so why the differentiation between legal/illegal importation in this sentence....not very well written.

[marktwain]

Why would the Federal government (DOJ) not challenge the laws constitutionality? They do that in the upper 48 all the time.

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I have never seen the DOJ challenge a law’s constitutionality. Could you give an example?

Of course, private parties do so quite commonly.

[Magnum44]

Isnt the Federal govt claiming jurisdiction over immigration doing just that? I may be out on a limb here and I am not a lawyer, but if they can fight a state over this, why cant they fight a state over other bad law and policy?

[doorgunner69]

I bet they never restrict machete sales there.

[marktwain]

Isnt the Federal govt claiming jurisdiction over immigration doing just that?

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In that case they are not challenging a law. They are saying the Federal government is responsible for enforcing federal law. It just is confirming federal law.

For at least many decades, the DOJ framed their job as defending federal statutes, with no consideration for whether the law is/was constitutional.

Under the Trump administration, the DOJ is actually considering (at least under the Second Amendment) if the law is Constitutional. They have been submitting briefs to the federal courts and actually telling the courts they believe some of the federal laws are not valid under the Constitution.