Minnesota Firearm News

A new Supreme Court challenge in Peterson v. United States could determine whether suppressors are protected under the Second Amendment. The case has the potential to reshape federal suppressor regulations and challenge key provisions of the National Firearms Act.

New federal legislation aims to block taxpayer funding for state gun owner registries, addressing privacy concerns and protecting the rights of lawful firearm owners.

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.