Supreme Court Declines AR-15, Magazine Ban Challenges

The U.S. Supreme Court recently declined to hear challenges to Maryland and Rhode Island laws banning AR-15-style rifles and high-capacity magazines, leaving these state bans in place for now despite their widespread ownership across the country. Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Samuel Alito dissented, arguing that such bans conflict with the Court's 2022 Bruen ruling, which extended Second Amendment protections outside the home, while Justice Brett Kavanaugh acknowledged Maryland as an outlier and indicated the Court will likely address the AR-15 issue in upcoming terms. The refusal to take these cases has disappointed gun rights advocates who view the AR-15 as the most popular civilian rifle in America and believe its ban undermines constitutional rights. The Bruen decision has also prompted historical analyses showing that American gun regulation has long been intertwined with social and political contexts, including restrictions targeting specific populations dating back to the 1600s. Maryland's ban, enacted after the Sandy Hook shooting, exemplifies how high-profile incidents influence gun control laws despite debates over their constitutional validity. Overall, the Court appears cautious about addressing these contentious issues amid political sensitivities but signals that a definitive ruling on AR-15 bans is forthcoming.