Minnesota Firearm News

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in United States v. Hemani, a case challenging the federal prohibition on firearm possession by marijuana users under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3). The justices examined whether disarming someone based solely on regular marijuana use aligns with the historical-tradition standard set forth in Bruen, a decision that could significantly impact status-based firearm bans nationwide.

A legal battle over the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) has reached the U.S. Supreme Court as gun industry groups challenge New York’s “firearm industry responsibility” law in NSSF v. James. The case could determine whether states can bypass federal protections by using civil liability laws to regulate firearm manufacturers and dealers.

A new federal lawsuit, Roberts v. ATF, argues that the National Firearms Act’s registration requirements for suppressors and short-barreled firearms cannot stand now that the $200 excise tax has been eliminated. Plaintiffs contend the NFA was upheld as a tax measure in Sonzinsky v. United States, and without that revenue basis, the remaining registration regime lacks constitutional justification — potentially setting up a major test of federal firearms regulation.

Kentucky’s HB 749 would establish a state-run Office of Public Defense to facilitate lawful machine gun transfers under an existing federal exemption allowing transfers “to or by” a state. Supporters say the bill challenges the long-standing NFA framework while using language already embedded in federal law, potentially setting up a significant test case in the evolving Second Amendment landscape.

Alabama lawmakers are advancing HB 360, a proposal that would create an annual “Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday” exempting firearms, ammunition, and accessories from state sales tax during the last weekend of August. Supporters say the measure would reduce financial barriers for lawful gun owners and could serve as a model for other states considering how to approach Second Amendment policy.

Connecticut’s HB5043 would classify common semi-automatic handguns as illegal “convertible pistols,” targeting firearms based on theoretical modification rather than unlawful conduct. Modeled after California’s new law, the proposal raises significant constitutional questions under Heller and signals a broader shift toward banning firearms based on potential misuse.