Minnesota Firearm News

West Virginia’s SB 1071, a bold proposal to allow the state to facilitate lawful machine gun transfers to qualified citizens, has stalled before reaching a full vote. While the bill was halted after clearing committee, supporters say the fight to revive the legislation and challenge federal firearm restrictions is far from over.

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.

West Virginia’s SB 1071, which cleared the Judiciary Committee, has stalled before reaching the Finance Committee, raising concerns among supporters that the bill may be sidelined without a recorded vote. Advocates are urging Senate leadership to bring the measure to the floor, arguing that lawmakers should publicly vote on the proposal rather than allow it to fade through procedural delay.

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.

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.