The U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s current determination to not contemplate a case difficult Maryland’s ban on so-called “assault weapons” is drawing fireplace from quite a few gun-rights teams that imagine SCOTUS ought to settle the contentious concern as soon as and for all.
Assault Weapons Ban Case Rejected by SCOTUS
On June 2, the excessive court docket voted to reject the chance to listen to the case Snope v. Brown, together with one other necessary case, Ocean State Tactical v. Rhode Island, which challenges that state’s ban on so-called “high-capacity” ammunition magazines. The court docket wanted 4 “yea” votes to take up the circumstances, however didn’t handle to garner the wanted votes, regardless of having what many contemplate to be a “pro-gun” majority.
Professional-Gun Teams Reply
After the court docket denied the case, pro-rights teams, together with the Firearms Coverage Coalition (FPC), denounced the court docket’s determination
“We’re disenchanted that some members of the Supreme Courtroom didn’t have the judicial braveness to do their most necessary job and implement the Structure,” FPC mentioned in a information launch following the court docket determination. “Like hundreds of thousands of peaceful gun homeowners throughout the nation, we’re annoyed that the Courtroom continues to permit decrease courts to deal with the Second Modification as a second-class proper. However greater than the rest, we’re extra resolved than ever to struggle ahead and eradicate these immoral bans all through the nation, no matter and nonetheless lengthy it takes.”
Gun House owners of America (GOA) additionally had some selection phrases for the court docket after it denied listening to the AWB case.
“It’s reckless and harmful for the Courtroom to permit tyrannical AR-15 bans to face for even one other yr or two,” GOA mentioned in a information launch. “Hundreds of thousands of law-abiding People are being stripped of their rights whereas courts under defy Bruen and invent new assessments to uphold unconstitutional legal guidelines.”
The group added that it has one other lawsuit working its method by means of the courts that ought to quickly find yourself earlier than the excessive court docket.
“Luckily, GOA and GOF usually are not ready idly,” the group mentioned. “Our authorized workforce is now litigating FFLs of Illinois v. Pritzker, the place we secured a everlasting injunction towards Illinois’ sweeping rifle and journal bans. That case is at present on attraction within the Seventh Circuit and stands as one of many best-positioned challenges to be taken up by the Supreme Courtroom.”
Justice Thomas Weighs In
One dependable pro-freedom justice, Clarence Thomas, wrote a dissent to the choice by which he expressed frustration that the court docket didn’t take up the gun ban case.
“I might not wait to determine whether or not the federal government can ban the preferred rifle in America,” Thomas wrote within the dissent. “That query is of crucial significance to tens of hundreds of thousands of law-abiding AR–15 homeowners all through the nation.”
Thomas added that in his opinion, the Maryland ban doesn’t meet the standards for figuring out Second Modification circumstances as set forth within the 2022 Bruen ruling.
“It’s tough to see how Maryland’s categorical prohibition on AR–15s passes muster underneath this framework,” he wrote. “To start out, AR–15s are clearly ‘Arms’ underneath the Second Modification’s plain textual content.”
