The Supreme Court opted not to take on two significant gun law cases on Monday, allowing a Maryland law banning assault-style weapons, including the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle, to remain in effect.
This law has faced challenges particularly because of the weapon’s use in several high-profile mass shootings.
Additionally, a Rhode Island law limiting large-capacity magazines was also upheld in this decision, which means the restrictions will continue to be enforced.
Litigation regarding similar bans across the nation remains active, indicating that these issues will likely resurface before the justices in the future.
Janet Carter, a lawyer with gun control advocacy group Everytown Law, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that appellate courts across the U.S. have consistently and correctly supported laws like these, contributing to increased community safety.
On the other side of the debate, the Firearms Policy Coalition, a pro-gun rights organization challenging the Maryland law, voiced disappointment with the Supreme Court.
They criticized some members of the court for failing to demonstrate the “judicial courage” needed to uphold the Constitution, suggesting this lapse could impact gun rights advocacy.
The statement from the group called on the Trump administration to lend support to gun rights activists for any future legal battles.
With a conservative majority of 6-3, the court has previously expanded gun rights but has recently shown hesitancy to review new cases regarding the Second Amendment’s implications.
Nonetheless, there appears to be interest among several justices to address the issues surrounding assault weapons soon.
Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch indicated their desire to hear the Maryland case, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh highlighted a need for the court to listen to arguments about the AR-15 in the coming years.
Kavanaugh pointed out that millions of Americans owning AR-15 rifles makes Maryland’s ban an anomaly when considering national perspectives on firearm laws.
The court’s recent precedents, including a major ruling in 2022 that affirmed the right to bear arms extends beyond the home, have led to numerous appeals and judicial scrutiny regarding the scope of gun legislation across the United States.
Following that ruling in 2022, both new restrictions and court reversals of longstanding gun laws have surged, escalating the call for clarifications from the Supreme Court.
Justice Thomas expressed concern in his dissenting opinion about the Maryland law’s compatibility with the 2022 ruling, stating it’s challenging to determine how the law’s absolute ban on AR-15s aligns with the court’s legal framework.
The Maryland law, which defines “assault weapons” as military-style firearms akin to the M16 and AR-15, was implemented after the tragic Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012, which resulted in the deaths of 20 children and six adults.
Initially passed in 2013, the law was upheld by the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals before a re-evaluation prompted by the Supreme Court’s 2022 directive.
Despite the court’s intervention, the appeals court reaffirmed its previous ruling in an August 2024 judgment.
Similarly, the Rhode Island law, which prohibits possession of magazines holding more than ten rounds, was enacted just before the Supreme Court issued its momentous 2022 ruling.
Lower courts, including the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, have upheld this magazine restriction, which was contested by several gun owners and a local gun shop, Big Bear Hunting and Fishing Supply.
Last July, the Supreme Court also chose to sidestep various gun-related disputes soon after supporting a federal law that restricts firearm possession by individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders.
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