Feds Sue VIPD Claiming Unconstitutional Gun Permit Rules

The federal Justice Department filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Virgin Islands government, claiming the Virgin Islands Police Department and its Commissioner Mario Brooks were violating would-be lawful gun owners’ constitutional rights.

The suit, filed in Virgin Islands District Court, said VIPD caused abnormal delays in processing gun permits and required unreasonable conditions for permit approval. The suit claimed Virgin Islands firearms laws were almost identical to laws of other municipalities that had been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in recent years.

“VI Defendants have continued to obstruct and systematically deny law-abiding American citizens this fundamental right by systematically delaying the processing of applications and imposing unconstitutional conditions on the exercise of this constitutional right,” according to the suit. “The conduct by the USVI, the VIPD, and defendant Brooks has rendered the constitutional right to keep and bear arms a virtual nullity within the United States Virgin Islands territory.”

Government House said they were aware of the suit and took the allegations seriously.