DOJ appoints Barry Arrington as chief of new Second Amendment Section, outlines agenda

Barry Arrington, appointed chief of the Department of Justice’s Second Amendment Section within the Civil Rights Division, sat for his first interview shortly before the DOJ filed an amicus brief in a Supreme Court firearms case. He described the section’s three-pronged remit—people, places and things—aimed at guaranteeing that federal, state and local authorities uphold Second Amendment rights. Arrington said the unit will challenge bans on constitutionally protected semi-automatic rifles, such as the recent Third Circuit decision overturning New Jersey’s ban, and will contest overly burdensome concealed-carry licensing requirements.

He highlighted ongoing litigation in Montgomery County, Maryland, and a renewed complaint against the Virgin Islands’ gun-control statutes. Arrington affirmed that the section will work closely with Solicitor General D. John Sauer’s office on Supreme Court filings. The creation of the section follows President Donald Trump’s 2025 executive order to assess and address alleged infringements of gun rights.