Tag: SCOTUS

What Do Vampires and the Founding Fathers Have in Common?
GunStuff TV is proud to bring you another must-watch episode featuring Kostas Moros, Director of Legal Research and Education for the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF). In this timely discussion, originally aired on June 25, 2026, Kostas breaks down two major recent Supreme Court rulings that reinforce our constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

The “Vampire Rule” and Founding-Era Wisdom

The episode title cleverly nods to a key theme in one of the cases: the idea that certain restrictions on gun rights only apply under very narrow, extreme conditions — much like how vampires are only vulnerable under specific circumstances (sunlight, stakes, etc.). The Founding Fathers understood self-defense as a fundamental right, and modern courts are increasingly aligning with that original understanding.

Key Cases Discussed

1. United States v. Hemani (Decided June 18, 2026) In a unanimous 9-0 decision authored by Justice Neil Gorsuch, the Supreme Court held that the federal ban on firearm possession by “unlawful users” of controlled substances (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3)) is unconstitutional as applied to someone like Ali Hemani — a marijuana user who was not actively intoxicated or demonstrating dangerousness at the time of possession.
- The Court emphasized that historical analogues for disarmament were limited to those whose habitual, extreme intoxicant use rendered them incapacitated or a clear danger.
- This ruling protects law-abiding citizens who use substances like marijuana (legal in many states) from automatic federal disarmament without proof of contemporaneous impairment.
- Concurring opinions reinforced the limits of such categorical bans under the Second Amendment.
2. Wolford v. Lopez This case challenges Hawaii’s restrictions on concealed carry, particularly the requirement for express permission from property owners to carry on private property open to the public (e.g., stores, restaurants). The decision addresses whether such laws impermissibly burden the right to bear arms in public spaces consistent with historical traditions.

Kostas provides expert insight into the arguments, historical context, and implications for gun owners nationwide, especially in light of Bruen’s history-and-tradition test.

Why This Matters for Gun Owners

These rulings represent significant wins for the Second Amendment:
- They push back against overly broad, categorical restrictions.
- They affirm that the right to keep and bear arms isn’t a “second-class right.”
- They provide clarity and stronger legal footing for challenges to similar laws across the country.
Kostas Moros, with his deep experience litigating 2A cases and authoring amicus briefs, delivers clear, actionable analysis that every shooter, concealed carrier, and 2A supporter should hear.

Watch the Full Episode

Head over to our Vimeo page to watch the complete interview: What Do Vampires and the Founding Fathers Have in Common?

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What are your thoughts on these SCOTUS decisions? Drop a comment below or join the conversation on our social channels. Stay armed with knowledge — and stay safe out there!

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June 25, 2026
DOJ Signals Supreme Court Could Strike Down AR-15 Bans Nationwide in Landmark 2A Case
Hold onto your magazines, patriots—there’s a seismic shift brewing in the world of Second Amendment law that could shatter assault weapons bans coast to coast. In a stunning admission buried in a recent Department of Justice filing, the feds have essentially handed gun owners a golden ticket to nationwide AR-15 legalization. This isn’t just legalese smoke; it’s a signal that the Supreme Court might finally deliver the Bruen-sized smackdown these unconstitutional restrictions deserve.

The Filing That Changed Everything

At the heart of this drama is the ongoing battle in Bianchi v. Frosh, a Fifth Circuit challenge to Maryland’s draconian assault weapons ban. But the real fireworks came in the DOJ’s opposition brief to a cert petition in a related high-profile case. There, buried in the government’s own words, they conceded that semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15 are “bearable arms” squarely protected by the Second Amendment. No more dodging with “military-style” nonsense—the DOJ admits these are the modern equivalent of the muskets our Founders enshrined.

This isn’t some rogue lawyer’s slip-up. It’s a calculated pivot, likely previewing the Biden-Harris DOJ’s weak-kneed defense if SCOTUS takes up the issue. As the brief notes, outright bans on “commonly used rifles” fail the post-Bruen history-and-tradition test. Translation: States like California, New York, Illinois, and Maryland are on borrowed time.

“The Government does not dispute that semiautomatic rifles are ‘in common use’ today for lawful purposes like self-defense.” — DOJ Filing Excerpt

That’s right—they’re waving the white flag on the “assault weapon” hysteria. Over 20 million AR-15s and similar rifles are in circulation, making them America’s most popular firearm. Banning them isn’t public safety; it’s political theater.

Why AR-15 Bans Are Doomed

Post-New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), courts must judge gun laws by their historical analogues from 1791 or 1868. Guess what? There were no “assault weapon” bans then because semi-autos didn’t exist—yet the principle holds: Governments can’t ban arms in common use for lawful purposes. Lower courts have already started crumbling:
- 5th Circuit: Struck down ATF’s pistol brace rule, signaling skepticism of feature-based bans.
- 7th Circuit: Questioned Illinois’ ban in oral arguments.
- Multiple Districts: Injunctions piling up against state AWBs.
The DOJ’s filing tips the scales. If SCOTUS grants cert—and insiders say it’s likely—we’re looking at a ruling that eviscerates bans in at least 10 states, freeing millions to exercise their God-given right without Big Brother’s permission slip.

What This Means for You

Picture this: No more mag dumps in the safe because your state says so. Hunters, home defenders, and range warriors reclaiming the standard-issue rifle of free America. This is the Heller moment for modern arms—expanding protection from handguns to rifles.

But don’t pop the champagne yet. Anti-gun zealots will scream “mass shootings!” ignoring that criminals don’t follow laws, and AR-15s are used defensively far more than offensively. Stats from the CDC and FBI back it: Rifles of any kind are a tiny fraction of crime guns. The real threat? Tyrannical overreach.

Stay Locked and Loaded

As petitions pile up at One First Street, keep the pressure on. Support groups like FPC, GOA, and SAF fighting these battles. Your voice—and your vote—matters. If SCOTUS swings the hammer, it’ll echo from sea to shining sea: The right to keep and bear ARMS shall not be infringed.

Glory days ahead, 2A fam. What’s your take—ready for ARs everywhere?

Stay vigilant. Train hard. Fight smart.

References
May 16, 2026
Supreme Court Grants Review in Wolford v. Lopez: Hawaii’s Ban on Concealed Carry in Private Businesses Faces Second Amendment Scrutiny
Big news for Second Amendment defenders: the U.S. Supreme Court just granted certiorari in Wolford v. Lopez (No. 24-1046), putting Hawaii’s draconian ban on concealed carry in private businesses squarely in the crosshairs. This is the next frontier in our post-Bruen fight for carry rights, and it’s a direct shot at nanny-state restrictions that treat law-abiding gun owners like criminals.

What Happened in Hawaii?

Hawaii’s law presumptively bans licensed concealed handgun carriers from carrying on private property open to the public—like stores, restaurants, and gas stations—unless they get the owner’s express permission first. No signage required, no posted “no guns” sign; you just need affirmative okay from the property owner every time. Fail to get it? You’re breaking the law.

James Wolford and Aaron Wolford, both licensed concealed carriers, were arrested for carrying in such places without that permission. They sued, arguing this violates the Second Amendment under New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), which demands gun laws be rooted in historical tradition, not modern “sensitive places” whims.

The Ninth Circuit’s Blunder

The Ninth Circuit upheld Hawaii’s ban, claiming it’s consistent with “historical regulations prohibiting carrying in places where the people gathered in large numbers.” But here’s the kicker: this clashes with rulings from the Third, Fifth, and Seventh Circuits, which struck down similar “private property” bans post-Bruen. The split creates perfect grounds for SCOTUS intervention, and they’ve taken it up.

Critics of Hawaii’s rule point out there’s zero historical analogue for forcing armed citizens to beg permission before entering a public-facing business. Our Founding Fathers carried freely into taverns, shops, and inns without doormen checking for flintlock approvals. Hawaii’s approach flips property rights on its head—punishing carriers instead of letting owners decide via signs.

Why This Matters for Your Rights

If SCOTUS rules for the Wolfords, it could dismantle presumptive bans nationwide. Imagine shopping at Walmart, grabbing coffee at Starbucks, or filling up at the pump without second-guessing your God-given right to self-defense. No more “permission slips” for peaceable armed citizens.
- Post-Bruen Clarity: Reinforces that “sensitive places” must be historically precise—not vague “private property” catch-alls.
- Circuit Split Resolved: Ninth Circuit’s outlier status exposed and corrected.
- Expansion of Carry Rights: Private businesses open to the public become fair game, aligning with public carry freedoms.
Hawaii’s paradise-for-criminals vibe—highest concealed carry permit denial rate in the nation—won’t survive Bruen‘s glare. This case screams for reversal.

Stay Locked and Loaded

Keep your eyes on this one, patriots. SCOTUS could hear arguments next term, delivering another win for the right to keep and bear arms. In the meantime, support groups like the Firearms Policy Coalition and Second Amendment Foundation fighting these battles. Train hard, carry smart, and defend the Constitution—because freedom doesn’t defend itself.

What do you think—will SCOTUS expand carry rights into private spaces? Drop your take in the comments below!

References
May 13, 2026