Supreme Court of the United States
Plain-language updates on gun rights cases before the Supreme Court
Not Supreme Court cases — but federal agency actions and lower-court rulings with broad impact that people following these cases will want to know about.
Federal agency action · Oct 9, 2026
Do you still need ATF approval and federal registration to buy or make a suppressor or short-barreled rifle?
ATF announced October 9, 2026 that it will no longer enforce NFA approval or registration for suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and AOWs nationwide, after a Texas federal court ruling the Justice Department declined to appeal.
Read moreU.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit (full court) · Oct 13, 2026
Can the federal government permanently disarm everyone with a felony conviction, no matter what the crime was?
Two same-day en banc decisions: the federal felon gun ban can't be applied to a man with two early-2000s DUI convictions, but the conviction was upheld where the prior offense was terroristic threats.
Read moreHeeter v. James · U.S. District Court, W.D.N.Y. · Oct 21, 2026
Is body armor an "arm" protected by the Second Amendment?
A federal judge held body armor is covered by the Second Amendment and permanently enjoined New York's sale and purchase restrictions, then paused the order for 14 days so the state can seek appellate review.
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