US Supreme Court Expands Second Amendment Rights, Unanimously Limits Federal Gun Restrictions on Drug Users

WASHINGTON: The U.S. Supreme Court has made significant strides in expanding Second Amendment rights through two recent rulings. On Thursday, the court ruled 6-3 to invalidate a Hawaii law requiring gun owners to obtain permission from property owners before bringing handguns onto privately owned public spaces, such as businesses. Additionally, the justices unanimously decided to narrow the application of a longstanding federal law that prohibits certain drug users from possessing firearms, a measure that had implications for millions of Americans who use marijuana and own guns.

These rulings come at a time when the nation is grappling with ongoing debates about gun violence and mass shootings. They highlight the court’s generally favorable stance toward Second Amendment protections, reinforcing a legal framework that makes it increasingly challenging for gun control measures to survive judicial scrutiny.

Implications of the Rulings

Experts suggest that these decisions have intensified the legal standards that gun control laws must meet to comply with the Second Amendment, which was ratified in 1791. The amendment states, “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

Jacob Charles, a professor at Pepperdine University Caruso School of Law, noted that the rulings reflect the court’s “extreme skepticism” toward various gun regulations, particularly new ones. He remarked that the court has established a legal test that complicates the ability of legislatures to enact laws aimed at protecting citizens.

As the current term of the Supreme Court nears its conclusion, gun rights advocates are optimistic about the court’s willingness to consider additional Second Amendment cases in the upcoming term, which begins in October.

Upcoming Challenges

During a recent private conference, the justices reviewed appeals challenging state restrictions on assault-style rifles, including AR-15s, and large-capacity ammunition magazines. These cases could be addressed as early as next week.

Stephen Stamboulieh, an attorney with Gun Owners of America, emphasized the necessity for the Supreme Court to enforce its previous rulings against such restrictions. He stated that it is “critical” for the court to take up cases involving AR-15s and magazine limits to address what he perceives as a rebellion against the court’s precedents by lower courts.

In a previous instance, the Supreme Court declined to hear appeals related to similar lawsuits, prompting dissent from three conservative justices. Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressed support for the argument that AR-15s are commonly used by law-abiding citizens and should therefore be protected under the Second Amendment.

The court is also contemplating a challenge to a federal ban on federally licensed firearms dealers selling handguns to individuals under the age of 21, along with similar state laws.

The Bruen Test

Both of the recent rulings utilized a legal framework established in the landmark 2022 decision, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, authored by Justice Clarence Thomas. This “Bruen test” requires that gun control measures must align with the historical traditions of firearm regulation in the United States, rather than merely advancing a significant government interest.

In the 2024 case of U.S. v. Rahimi, the court upheld an 8-1 ruling that criminalizes firearm possession for individuals under domestic violence restraining orders. This law is currently the only one to have successfully passed the Bruen test at the Supreme Court level.

David Kopel, a Second Amendment expert at the Independence Institute, highlighted that the unique circumstances surrounding domestic abusers set the Rahimi decision apart from the recent rulings. He noted that individuals who use marijuana or hold concealed-carry permits are not inherently dangerous, contrasting them with domestic abusers.

Hawaii officials defended their law as a balanced approach between the right to bear arms and property owners’ rights to restrict firearms on their premises. However, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, in her dissent, criticized the court’s conservative majority for allegedly manipulating the Bruen test to prioritize firearm access over legislative intent.

Charles dismissed claims from some conservative justices that the Second Amendment is being treated as a “second-class right.” He argued that the court’s interpretations have elevated the Second Amendment above other rights.

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Published on 2026-06-26 14:28:00 • By the Editorial Desk