Following lobbying efforts from the gun industry and Republican politicians, the Trump administration has allowed the resumption of sales for some of the most heavily regulated firearms and accessories. Federal employees responsible for regulating items like silencers, short-barreled rifles, and vintage machine guns have returned to work, ending the sales halt caused by the government shutdown. Industry groups argued that the sales restrictions violated Second Amendment rights, prompting the administration’s concession despite ongoing disruptions to other critical public services. While the move was celebrated by gun rights organizations, other aspects of the industry, such as international gun dealing permits, remain affected by the shutdown.
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The Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether regular marijuana users can legally own firearms, following a 2022 decision that expanded gun rights. The case involves a Texas man charged with a felony for possessing a gun while admitting to regular marijuana use, with the Justice Department appealing a lower court’s decision that struck down the ban. The government argues the ban is a justifiable restriction, while the defense argues it puts millions at risk due to varying state laws regarding marijuana. This case is another test of the Supreme Court’s new approach to firearm restrictions, which requires restrictions to have a strong historical grounding.
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The Supreme Court has denied a lawsuit filed by Laura Loomer, a far-right conspiracy theorist, against social media platforms and individuals. Loomer alleged a coordinated effort to censor her on social media, arguing this impacted her congressional campaigns after she was banned from platforms like Twitter and Facebook for “hateful” conduct. Her lawsuit named various defendants and claimed they conspired to suppress conservative speech, but lower courts dismissed the case, finding no violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. The Supreme Court’s decision, with Justice Alito recusing himself, effectively ends the legal challenge.
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The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case concerning Hawaii’s law requiring express permission from private property owners for individuals to carry guns, potentially impacting gun carry rights in various public spaces. This decision follows a 2022 Supreme Court ruling that expanded access to guns, and Hawaii’s law, enacted in response, reverses the prior requirement that property owners explicitly prohibit guns. The case stems from a challenge by gun owners who argue the law infringes on their right to carry in public, with the government’s argument emphasizing the unique restriction on guns compared to other items. The Court’s decision will hinge on historical precedent as outlined in its prior ruling, and could have significant implications for “sensitive place” restrictions on guns.
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Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Wednesday morning while speaking at Utah Valley University. A video resurfaced following the shooting, showing Kirk defending gun rights and stating that some gun deaths were an acceptable cost to preserve the Second Amendment. The shooting occurred during Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour” as he was addressing a question about mass shootings. Initial reports were unclear, but Donald Trump later confirmed Kirk’s death, prompting public mourning and debate.
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The National Rifle Association (NRA) announced its opposition to any potential Justice Department rule that would ban transgender people from owning firearms, deeming it a violation of Second Amendment rights. This response follows reports that the Justice Department is considering using its authority to classify transgender individuals as mentally ill, thus restricting their gun ownership. The NRA maintains it will not support policies that arbitrarily remove gun rights from law-abiding citizens without due process. The discussions within the Justice Department are preliminary, but they have already sparked criticism from civil rights and gun advocacy groups.
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The Department of Justice is reportedly considering a proposal that would restrict transgender Americans from possessing firearms, potentially contradicting the Trump administration’s prior stances on Second Amendment rights. This proposal follows a mass shooting in Minnesota allegedly committed by a trans woman, which has fueled political outrage and baseless claims. The proposed restrictions are part of a larger pattern of directives and actions by the administration that have targeted trans people, including limitations on healthcare and military service. The Justice Department has stated the evaluation of options is to prevent violence from individuals with mental health challenges and substance abuse disorders.
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The prospect of the DOJ labeling trans Americans as “mentally defective” to strip them of their Second Amendment rights is deeply troubling, and for a variety of reasons. It’s a move that, if successful, could set a dangerous precedent, opening the door for the erosion of rights for other marginalized groups. The core concern is that this isn’t an isolated incident but a deliberate tactic in a broader pattern of escalating attacks on trans people. The potential for this to escalate is very real, and that should be a cause for concern for everyone.
This potential action by the DOJ, under the direction of the Trump administration and Attorney General Pam Bondi, represents a direct assault on a vulnerable population.… Continue reading
DOJ mulling rule that could restrict transgender individuals from owning guns, according to emerging discussions, is a deeply concerning development that raises fundamental questions about civil rights and the scope of the Second Amendment. It’s as though the very essence of “shall not be infringed” is being tested, not just in theory, but in the lived reality of a vulnerable population. The implications are far-reaching, and the potential consequences are truly unsettling.
If the Justice Department decides to move forward and disqualify transgender individuals from owning firearms, it would rely on a federal law that already restricts people who have been “adjudicated as mental defectives.”… Continue reading
Following the Minneapolis Catholic church shooting, Justice Department officials are considering proposals to limit transgender people’s firearm rights, potentially building on the narrative that gender dysphoria is a mental illness disqualifying individuals from gun ownership. This consideration represents a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s policies targeting transgender Americans, despite legal hurdles. While the DOJ aims to prevent those with gender dysphoria from obtaining firearms, this potential ban has raised concerns about unfairly targeting a vulnerable population, as well as the implications of defining gender dysphoria as a mental illness for Second Amendment rights. This decision comes as the DOJ has previously targeted gender-affirming care through subpoenas.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood
Charlie Kirk Shot: Death of a Gun Rights Advocate Draws Irony and Scorn
Conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was fatally shot on Wednesday morning while speaking at Utah Valley University. A video resurfaced following the shooting, showing Kirk defending gun rights and stating that some gun deaths were an acceptable cost to preserve the Second Amendment. The shooting occurred during Kirk’s “American Comeback Tour” as he was addressing a question about mass shootings. Initial reports were unclear, but Donald Trump later confirmed Kirk’s death, prompting public mourning and debate.
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