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SCOTUS Gun Watch 3/6/2026
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On Monday, the Court held oral arguments in United States v. Hemani, a challenge to the federal law that prohibits unlawful drug users from possessing firearms. As Jake Charles explains in his oral argument debrief, a majority of the Justices seemed skeptical of the Government’s arguments—particularly with respect to two issues: (1) the appropriateness of the analogues offered, and (2) whether the Gun Control Act (incorporating the Controlled Substances Act drug scheduling) reflects Congress’s actual judgment about the dangerousness of the drugs listed in the CSA Schedules. Whatever the result, we anticipate receiving multiple opinions from the Court. |
TX: Whelp, Looks Like Brandon Herrera is Going to Congress
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Second Amendment advocate and gun meme enjoyer Brandon "AK Guy" Herrera could soon be considered a Distinguished Gentleman from Texas on Capitol Hill.
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Ernest "Tony" Gonzales, who was set to face Herrera in a May runoff election to be the Republican candidate for the solidly red 23rd Congressional District of Texas, abruptly dropped out of the race on Thursday.
"After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had in my district,” Gonzales said in the statement. |
DC: Appeals court declares DC ban on certain gun magazines unconstitutional
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“Magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition are ubiquitous in our country, numbering in the hundreds of millions, accounting for about half of the magazines in the hands of our citizenry, and they come standard with the most popular firearms sold in America today,” Judge Joshua Deahl wrote on behalf of the two-judge majority in the three-judge panel.
“Because these magazines are arms in common and ubiquitous use by law-abiding citizens across this country, we agree with Benson and the United States that the District’s outright ban on them violates the Second Amendment,” he added. |
NJ: SAF Wants Another Chance To Fight New Jersey 3D Printing Laws
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In one of the most-significant yet most under-the-radar legal battles going on in the U.S. right now, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) has filed a petition for a rehearing of the Defense Distributed v. Attorney General of New Jersey case. A three-judge Third Circuit panel has recently dismissed this case, but the SAF says there are reasons to reopen it, and they’re doing their best to force this issue back into court. |
DC: Court Strikes Down D.C. Cap on Gun Magazine Capacity
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The top court for the District of Columbia struck down the city’s law capping gun magazine capacity at ten rounds yesterday.
The case stemmed from the 2022 arrest of Tyree Benson. Members of a tactical D.C. Police unit tried to stop Benson and two other men on suspicion of criminal activity. Benson fled and had a Glock handgun in his pants when officers caught him. The gun had a magazine capable of holding 30 rounds. Benson was charged with possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device under a D.C. law that makes it illegal to have a gun magazine capable of holding more than ten rounds. |
CT: After Darien shooting, what to know about castle doctrine in Connecticut
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In most places in Connecticut, residents have a duty to retreat before using force in self-defense if another person threatens them. The state does not have a so-called "stand your ground" law, which does away with the requirement that someone must retreat if under threat.
But if someone is in in their home or place of work in Connecticut, that duty to retreat in order to claim self-defense no longer applies. |
GA: Georgia Senate expands 'stand your ground' law
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The Georgia Senate approved a bill Friday that broadens “stand your ground” self-defense protections, a proposal that critics said would help protect defendants such as those who murdered Ahmaud Arbery.
The 30-23 vote fell along party lines, with Republicans supporting the rights of Georgians to use force when needed during confrontations.
The legislation, Senate Bill 572, would allow people to claim immunity from prosecution soon after they’re charged, and cases involving claims of self-defense would only continue if there’s clear and convincing evidence of a crime. |
WY: Controversial changes to Wyoming gun law clear Legislature, head to governor’s desk
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A measure to add more penalties and civil liabilities to an existing Wyoming gun law cleared the House on Thursday.
Senate File 101 passed the House in a 40-21 vote. The bill, which is sponsored by Senate President Bo Biteman, is now headed to Gov. Mark Gordon’s desk. The governor vetoed a similar bill last year.
The bill would add major changes to Wyoming’s Second Amendment Protection Act, a law that imposes restrictions on enforcing federal gun directives within Wyoming’s borders. Those alterations include adding a civil option for litigation, meaning anyone, and not just the state, could take legal action based on alleged SAPA violations. |
Civil libertarians unite to oppose disarming cannabis consumers
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Under federal law, millions of Americans are committing felonies right now because they own guns and use marijuana, even if they live in states that have legalized the drug. There is nothing unconstitutional about that baffling situation, a Trump administration lawyer assured the Supreme Court on Monday, because cannabis consumers are analogous to “habitual drunkards,” who historically could be confined to workhouses or mental institutions.
Most of the justices, including both Republican and Democratic appointees, seemed skeptical of that claim. |
DC: District Magazine Ban Ruled Unconstitutional by D.C. Court of Appeals
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Alan Gottlieb, chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, told Ammoland via email, “This is a major Second Amendment ruling. You could say that it is the ‘second shot heard around the world.'”
Writing for the majority, Associate Judge Joshua Deahl, a Donald Trump appointee, noted that the federal government had reversed its position in the case and “concedes that this ban violates the Second Amendment.”
Meanwhile, the District continues to defend the ban. |
WY: Gordon Says Second Amendment Protection Act Is Fundraising Disguised As Legislation
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Gov. Mark Gordon called the most recent Second Amendment Protection Act (SAPA) to reach his desk “devastating” and an “embarrassment,” during a Friday appearance on the "Cowboy State Daily Show” with Jake Nichols.
He cast it as a blind mischaracterization of local law enforcement, and also said it’s part of a fundraising effort seeking to treat Wyoming people like “some well of funding.”
Senate File 101 is on Gordon’s desk after clearing the Legislature Friday.
All 23 sheriffs in Wyoming opposed the bill’s House version, House Bill 130, saying law enforcement officers could be swept into language and wrongfully penalized for performing their duties. |
WV: Senate President Responds To Criticism Of Bill Killed ‘In The Dark’
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Smith said in a statement Friday that he alone decided not to take the bill up and said he did so without reservation. He called it a “poorly drafted piece of legislation” that was unlikely to pass the House of Delegates and would face numerous legal challenges if it did.
“With an issue as critical as the protection of our Second Amendment rights, we must ensure the legislation we pass will survive legal challenge. This would not have,” Smith said.
“My record with the NRA (National Rifle Association) and WVCDL (West Virginia Citizens Defense League) is unquestioned, and West Virginians unquestionably trust the judgment of these groups on Second Amendment issues. And, further, I trust them,” he added. |
UT: Provo Canyon resident fires shots at intruder in self defense, authorities say
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A Provo Canyon resident fired several shots in self-defense at an intruder Thursday night after the man broke into a home and attacked the individual, police said.
The suspect, identified as Lance Hunter, of Aurora, Colorado, was captured shortly thereafter by authorities and taken to the hospital for treatment before being booked in the Utah County Jail, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
Hunter unlawfully entered an occupied home in the South Fork neighborhood around 8 p.m. and was verbally confronted by the armed resident, who tried to get him to leave the property, the sheriff’s office said. |
OH: Only 1 gunman in nightclub shootout faces attempted murder, assault
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A shootout between two men inside a crowded East End nightclub that left eight bystanders wounded has led to attempted murder and felonious assault charges against only one of the accused gunmen.
Because of how the shooting unfolded − and taking into account Ohio's self-defense laws − Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said one of the men, 29-year-old Derrick Long, acted in self-defense when he returned fire after being shot several times at close range. |
NJ: New Jersey’s Self-Defense Laws: Understanding the Castle Doctrine vs. Stand Your Ground
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According to New Jersey law, specifically N.J.S.A. 2C:3-4, individuals may employ force in self-defense only when they reasonably believe it is immediately necessary to protect themselves from unlawful force. Lustberg clarifies that the state employs an objective standard, meaning that a jury or judge will assess whether a reasonable person in a similar scenario would have deemed force necessary. “New Jersey takes a more restrictive approach to self-defense than many other states,” Lustberg asserts, adding that the use of force must be proportional to the perceived threat, with deadly force being justifiable only in cases presenting genuine risk of death or severe bodily injury. |
IA: Homeowner Shoots Woman After Forced Entry, But Made Huge Mistake Unlocking Door
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A quiet Saturday night in the Union Park neighborhood turned into a violent struggle for survival when a homeowner was forced to defend their life against a random intruder. Just before 11 p.m. on February 28, 2026, Des Moines police responded to a residence in the 1500 block of Guthrie Avenue following reports of an ongoing assault.
The homeowner told investigators the incident began when they heard someone yelling in the backyard and banging on the rear door. Upon unlocking the door to investigate, the resident was allegedly ambushed by 46-year-old Stannita Wilson, who forced her way inside and began a physical assault. The homeowner, who was armed with a handgun, fired multiple rounds to stop the attack. |
Taurus Renews Gold-Level Corporate Partnership
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The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) is pleased to announce that Taurus Holdings Inc. has renewed their commitment to the organization as a Gold-level corporate partner.
"Taurus Holdings Inc. (Taurus USA) is proud to renew our corporate sponsorship in support of the Second Amendment Foundation," said Taurus President and CEO Bret Vorhees. "SAF's ongoing commitment to protecting and advancing Second Amendment rights through education, research, and legal action aligns closely with our core values. We are honored to continue standing alongside an organization that works tirelessly to defend the constitutional freedoms of law-abiding Americans." |
DC: DC High Court Strikes Down Magazine Ban Over 10 Rounds in Major Second Amendment Ruling
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The District of Columbia Court of Appeals has ruled that the city’s ban on firearm magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds violates the Second Amendment.
The ruling came in Benson v. United States, a criminal case involving appellant Tyree Benson. The United States, which prosecuted the case, reversed its position during the appeal and conceded that the ban violates the Second Amendment. The District of Columbia continued to defend the law.
The court ultimately sided with Benson and ruled the District’s ban unconstitutional. |
TX: GunTuber Brandon Herrera Moves Toward Congress After Rep. Tony Gonzales Drops Re-Election Bid
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U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales of Texas announced Thursday that he will not seek re-election, ending his campaign for another term in Congress.
Gonzales made the announcement in a statement posted on X, saying the decision came after reflection and discussions with his family.
The three-term congressman did not reference the controversy that has surrounded his campaign in recent weeks.
Reports indicate Gonzales admitted to having an affair with a staff member who later died by suicide. House Republican leadership had also called for him to withdraw from his re-election race while an ethics investigation moves forward. |
Gun Owners of America Endorses Senator Lee's National Constitutional Carry Act
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Gun Owners of America (GOA) is proud to endorse Senator Mike Lee of Utah's bill, the National Constitutional Carry Act. Senator Lee's bill restores the right to carry as the founding fathers had intended 250 years ago. This bill would ensure that law abiding American citizens are able to carry around the country without fear of antigun states arbitrarily restricting or criminalizing their chosen self-defense tool. Residents of antigun states would no longer have to endure second class Second Amendment treatment, whether through outright hardware bans or policies that indirectly discourage the exercise of one's rights. |
Hillsdale College showcasing shooting sports center addition with weekend open houses
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Hillsdale College is showcasing its new Nimrod Complex, the latest addition to the Halter Shooting Sports Center, to the public during a two-day open house.
The complex is an indoor/outdoor archery, air gun, and rifle and pistol range that the college boasts will rival the best in the country.
The open house runs from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 6, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at the shooting sports center at 4390 Bankers Road, southwest of Hillsdale. Visitors can participate in raffles and giveaways, learn about memberships, visit the Liberty & Co. Pro Shop, and shoot on the archery, centerfire, and air rifle ranges, according to a Hillsdale College news release. |
VA: Virginia Senate Advances Three Major Gun Control Bills to Gov. Spanberger’s Desk
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Gun owners in the Commonwealth are watching closely this week as the Virginia Senate prepares to vote on several controversial gun-control measures that critics say would further restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens.
Among the bills headed toward final passage are HB 217, HB 110, and HB 901, three pieces of legislation backed by Democratic lawmakers that would impose new limits on firearm ownership, self-defense, and due process protections in Virginia. If the measures pass as expected, they will head to the desk of Governor Abigail Spanberger. While the governor seeks to disarm law-abiding citizens, she has also refused to help ICE deport violent illegal aliens. |
IL: The Bus Stop Battle: Gun Rights Group Takes Illinois Transit Ban To Supreme Court
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A long-running legal fight over whether licensed gun owners can carry firearms on buses and trains is officially knocking on the door of the U.S. Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) filed a critical reply brief in the case of Schoenthal v. Raoul, urging the nation’s highest court to strike down Illinois’ strict ban on public transit carry.
The legal challenge, which first began in 2022, targets a specific Illinois law that creates a “no-go zone” for firearms on any transportation funded by public money. Under current state rules, residents must pass background checks to obtain both a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card and a concealed carry license. |
IL: SAF, FPC File SCOTUS Brief In Challenge To Illinois’ Public Transportation Carry Ban
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Two major gun-rights organizations have filed a reply brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in a case challenging Illinois’ ban on the carry of firearms on public transportation.
On March 3, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed the brief in support of the cert petition in the case Schoenthal v. Raoul, which was originally filed in 2022 and challenges the state’s complete ban on carry on public transportation. |
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