US Federal Appeals Courts Uphold Multiple Firearm Restrictions

Recent court rulings across the United States have upheld various firearm restrictions, reflecting ongoing debates about the balance between gun rights and public safety. Colorado's Court of Appeals upheld the prohibition on firearm possession for individuals committed short-term for mental health treatment, affirming the state's process that allows for restoration of gun rights once safety concerns subside. The Fourth Circuit ruled that the federal ban on commercial handgun sales to individuals under 21 aligns with historical firearm regulations and is constitutional, though there was dissent regarding historical precedent. The Fifth Circuit unanimously upheld the Federal Gun Free School Zones Act by affirming the conviction of a man possessing an AR-15 near a school, citing centuries-old legal traditions supporting such restrictions. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to Maryland's semi-automatic rifle ban, maintaining the law despite a 6-3 split and ongoing tensions about interpreting the Second Amendment. Meanwhile, in Canada, gun owners are appealing to the Supreme Court of Canada to halt Liberal Party firearm confiscations, framing the issue as a broader challenge to constitutional rights and parliamentary sovereignty.