2 If By Sea Tactical Weekly News Round Up Week of 6/15/26

We are seeing massive movement on the path for restoring our Second Amendment rights. This past week had several landmark rulings out of various courts including the Supreme. The Supreme Court weighed in on firearm rights for marijuana users, a federal court issued a major ruling recognizing suppressors as protected "arms,".

We are seeing legal analysts increasingly speculating that the Supreme Court may finally be preparing to address the constitutionality of so-called "assault weapon" bans. Taken together, these stories highlight a larger trend that has defined the post-Bruen era.

That landmark decision has forced governments to justify firearm restrictions through history and constitutional text rather than political arguments. For us gun owners, that could have enormous implications in the months and years ahead.

Supreme Court Signals Marijuana Users Don't Automatically Lose Their Gun Rights

One of the most significant Second Amendment rulings of the year came from the United States Supreme Court this week in the United States v. Hemani.

The Court stopped short of completely eliminating the federal prohibition on firearm ownership by marijuana users. However, it delivered a major blow to the government's long-standing position that anyone who uses marijuana can automatically be stripped of their Second Amendment rights.

This issue has become increasingly important as more than half the country now lives in states where marijuana is legal in some form. This creates an obvious problem. A citizen can legally purchase marijuana under state law while simultaneously becoming a prohibited person under federal law.

That contradiction has created legal confusion for millions of Americans. The Supreme Court's ruling suggests that constitutional rights cannot simply disappear because someone falls into a broad government-created category. Instead, the court pointed to a lack of historical tradition that supports this restriction.

We are now seeing that the government continues running into trouble with this standard as our Founding Father’s never intended for heavy restrictions on arms. The Founders certainly understood intoxication and criminal behavior. What they did not appear to support was the permanent or automatic disarmament of otherwise law-abiding citizens simply because they used certain substances.

The Court's decision does not settle the issue completely, unfortunately. But it does send a strong message that blanket firearm prohibitions are no longer guaranteed to survive constitutional scrutiny.

Federal Court Rules Suppressors Are Protected "Arms"

In another major Second Amendment development, a federal appeals court ruled that suppressors qualify as protected "arms" under the Constitution in the appeal of U.S. vs. Comeaux. That may sound like a technical legal distinction but us gun owners know that it is not.

This ruling directly challenges years of arguments claiming suppressors are merely accessories that fall outside the protections of the Second Amendment. The court recognized a simple reality, suppressors are commonly owned, lawfully used, and directly connected to the exercise of the right to keep and bear arms.

Anyone that has been paying attention to the fight over NFA regulated items knows how big this is. Current estimates place suppressor ownership at well over six million nationwide. They are no longer niche items used by a small group of enthusiasts.

Millions of Americans use suppressors for hearing protection, recreational shooting, hunting, and self-defense. The court's ruling creates a growing split among federal courts, increasing the likelihood that the Supreme Court may eventually have to step in. If that happens, the consequences will extend far beyond just suppressors and most likely affect a wide variety of NFA regulated items.

It would not stop at just NFA items either. This same constitutional question applies to magazines, optics, triggers, braces, and countless other firearm components that anti-gun lawmakers have increasingly targeted. The ruling represents one of the strongest judicial recognitions yet that the Second Amendment protects more than just the firearm itself. It may also protect the tools necessary to effectively exercise that right.

Could Suppressors Finally Force the Supreme Court to Take an Assault Weapon Ban Case?

Perhaps the most fascinating development this week is what the suppressor ruling could mean for the future of assault weapon bans. For years, gun owners have wondered when the Supreme Court would finally address the constitutionality of AR-15 bans and similar restrictions.

Despite numerous opportunities, the Court has repeatedly declined to take those cases. But the suppressor’s ruling may change that. The reason is simple: both issues ultimately revolve around the same constitutional principle of “common use”.

The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that firearms commonly owned by law-abiding citizens receive constitutional protection. Suppressors now number more than six million nationwide. How about AR-15 style rifles? Most estimates place civilian ownership somewhere between 25 and 30 million.

If courts begin firmly recognizing that common ownership matters, anti-gun states face a serious constitutional problem. Because it becomes increasingly difficult to argue that firearms owned by tens of millions of Americans somehow fall outside the Second Amendment.

The growing disagreement among lower courts may eventually force the Supreme Court's hand. Several major cases challenging magazine bans, AR-15 prohibitions, and firearm restrictions are already waiting in the wings. The suppressor case could become the catalyst that finally pushes the Court to provide broader guidance. If that happens, some of the most controversial firearm laws in America could soon face direct review.

Final Thoughts

This week's stories may ultimately be remembered as part of a much larger constitutional shift. The Supreme Court is increasingly questioning broad firearm prohibitions and Federal courts are recognizing suppressors as protected arms.

This week shows the long-lasting effects of the Bruen decision back in 2022. That does not mean that the fight is over or that anti-2A states will take this laying down. However, with each ruling, the Bruen standard is being reinforced into every day legal society and makes it that much harder to undo.

This standard that takes us back to the founding principles this nation was formed underneath is restoring rights long thought to us. We are seeing the legal foundations, for instance, supporting assault weapon bans continue facing growing scrutiny. The common thread through all three stories is Bruen.

Since governments have been forced to justify firearm restrictions using history and tradition rather than simply arguing that restrictions promote public safety, they are failing miserably. It has restored power to us, the people, and forced the government to argue their restriction is justified instead of asking us why it is not.

That refraining of the question has shifted power from the government to us and is one of the biggest wins we have seen in the modern era. Many laws that once seemed untouchable are now being challenged successfully. Courts are increasingly demanding answers that anti-gun states struggle to provide.

Whether the issue is marijuana users, suppressors, magazines, or AR-15s, the legal battlefield continues moving in a direction that many Second Amendment advocates have hoped for decades to see. The next few months could prove pivotal. Because if the Supreme Court decides to step into these fights, the future of American gun law may be changed for a generation.

Here at 2 If By Sea Tactical we strive to bring you the best experience in the firearms world.  As we continue to grow the media arm of 2 If By Sea, make sure you keep tuning in to our Youtube and Rumble channels and right here at “The Patriot’s Almanac” to stay informed on the latest happenings in the firearm world! But we are not lawyers, so this isn't legal guidance. We are proud to be Southern Minnesota source for all things 2A.

Stay sharp, stay informed, and stay ready.