Today, we filed an Amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review a Fourth Circuit decision approving Maryland’s 2013 ban on “assault weapons.” The banned firearms are ordinary semi-automatic weapons and most are “commonly used,” if not ubiquitous among the gun-owning public, except where banned by a few states. We argue that the Fourth Circuit’s decision was really an attempt to circumvent Bruen. We argue “the Second Amendment’s plain text covers an individual’s conduct” in possessing such a weapon. Our brief shows that the “plain text” of the Second Amendment presumptively protects bearable firearms and Maryland could provide no relevant historical analogues.
Link to brief
Rhode v. Bonta — Amicus Brief in Second Appeal
Today, our firm filed our third amicus brief in the case challenging California’s background check requirement for ammunition purchases — our first amicus brief was filed in the prior appeal well before the Supreme Court’s decision in Bruen and the second
U.S. v. Daniels — Amicus brief on remand
Today, our firm filed a second brief in a case challenging the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3), this time on remand from the Supreme Court after it issued its decision in United States v. Rahimi. Our brief argued that Rahimi did not change the Bruen test that the Fifth Circuit had previously applied, and thus Rahimi would not change the outcome previously reached by the Fifth Circuit.
Nguyen v. Bonta — Amicus Brief
Today, our firm filed an amicus brief in an appeal in the Ninth Circuit, supporting a challenge to California’s law limiting firearm purchases to one per month. Our brief demonstrated that California’s law violates the Second Amendment by applying Bruen’s text and history test. The acquisition of firearms is clearly protected by the plain text of the Second Amendment, and the California
VCDL v. Roanoke — Reply Brief in Support of Motion for Temporary Injunction
Today, our firm with other Virginia co-counsel filed a Reply Brief in support of our Motion for a Temporary Injunction against the City of Roanoke’s ban on carry of firearms in public parks.
Texas v. ATF — Temporary Restraining Order Issued
Last night, on the eve of the effective date of the ATF’s final rule “Definition of ‘Engaged in the Business’ as a Dealer in Firearms,” the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas issued a temporary restraining order until June 2 against the enforcement of the rule against Texas, Jeffery Tormey, Gun Owners of America, Inc., Gun Owners Foundation, Tennessee Firearms Association,
Antonyuk v. James — Reply Brief
Today, we filed a reply brief in support of our Petition for Writ of Certiorari, responding to New York’s arguments defending its Concealed Carry Improvement Act.
Gun Owners of America v. Raoul — Reply Brief
Our reply brief responds to arguments made by the Illinois respondents, urging the Supreme Court to grant our Petition for Writ of Certiorari challenging Illinois’ “assault weapons” ban.
Baird v. Bonta — Amicus Brief
Today, our firm filed an amicus brief in a challenge to California’s near-complete ban on open carry of firearms. Our brief exposed how the district court rewrote the issues of the case so that it could reach its own predetermined decision, criticized and then rejected the Supreme Court’s decision in Heller and Bruen, and upheld yet another California law violating
Gun Owners of America v. Raoul — Petition for Certiorari
Today, our firm, with Stephen Stamboulieh, Esquire, filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, seeking review of the Seventh Circuit’s holding that the Illinois ban on so-called “assault weapons” does not violate the Second Amendment. Our petition explained how the Seventh Circuit resists the Supreme Court’s decisions on the Second Amendment, instead creating a dichotomy between
Maryland Shall Issue v. Moore — Amicus Brief
Today, our firm filed an amicus brief in support of a challenge to Maryland’s handgun license requirement. Our brief set out the history of the Fourth Circuit’s rejection of the Supreme Court’s decisions on the Second Amendment, and demonstrated that the permit requirement violates the Second Amendment as well as the Bruen test. Our brief concluded by providing examples of individuals
Antonyuk v. James — Petition for Certiorari
Today, our firm, with Stephen Stamboulieh, Esquire, filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari, seeking review of the Second Circuit’s decision in upholding the New York Concealed Carry Improvement Act. Our petition seeks review of New York’s good moral character requirement as well as the expansion
Garland v. Cargill — Amicus Brief
Today, our firm filed our fifth amicus brief opposing the ATF’s Rule banning bumpstocks — and our third amicus brief in this case. Our amicus brief argued that the bumpstock rule was politically motivated and was not based on a better interpretation of the statutes relating to machineguns. We also explained how the technical mechanisms of a semi-automatic rifle operates, both with and
Miller v. Bonta — Amicus Brief
Today, our firm filed an amicus brief in an appeal on whether California’s so-called “assault weapons” ban violates the Second Amendment. Our brief described the various ways in which California has demonstrated its hostility to the Second Amendment and the Supreme Court’s decisions. We argue that the assault weapons ban violates the Second Amendment using the Bruen test.
Duncan v. Bonta — Amicus Brief
Today, our firm filed its fifth amicus brief in the Duncan saga, a case challenging California’s high-capacity magazine ban. Our brief argued that the case was not properly before the en banc panel for initial hearing en banc. We showed how California has a history of hostility to the Second Amendment and the Supreme Court’s decisions on that amendment. Finally, we explain how the magazine
Morehouse v. ATF — Petition for Rehearing En Banc
Today, our firm, with Stephen Stamboulieh, filed a Petition for Rehearing En Banc — joined by 17 States — in the Eight Circuit, in the challenge to the Biden Administration’s ATF rulemaking on frames and receivers.
United States v. Rahimi — Merits Amicus Brief
Today, our firm filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court in defense of the proper Second Amendment interpretation recognized in D.C. v. Heller in 2008 and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen in 2022. This case involves the federal firearms ban on individuals who have certain types of restraining orders issued against them, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8). To try to prevent the Bruen
Koons v. Platkin — Amicus Brief
Today, our firm filed an amicus brief in support of a challenge to a New Jersey law prohibiting concealed carry of a firearm in a large number of so-called “sensitive places.” Our brief explained how New Jersey’s effort to justify the law under the Supreme Court’s Bruen analysis of Second Amendment challenges falls woefully short.
Guedes v. ATF — Amicus Supporting Petition for Certiorari
Today, our firm filed an amicus brief in support of a petition for certiorari challenging the ATF’s reclassification of bumpstocks as machineguns. Our amicus brief explained that the bumpstock ban was a reversal of position for the ATF, and was not based on new analysis, but rather at the direction of the President. Furthermore, the D.C. Circuit’s opinion below was based on marketing
U.S. v. Daniels — Amicus Brief
Today, our firm filed an amicus brief in support of an appeal challenging the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) — the federal prohibition on firearms possession by anyone who uses an unlawful substance. Our brief was filed at the invitation of the Fifth Circuit, which is seeking to understand whether 922(g)(3) has any historical analogues under the Bruen analysis. Our brief argued
Boland v. Bonta — Amicus Brief
Today, our firm filed an amicus brief in support of a challenge to California’s “Unsafe Handgun Act.” Our brief argued that the Second Amendment’s right to keep and bear arms also protects attendant rights, such as the right to acquire modern, state-of-the-arm firearms. We urged the Ninth Circuit that the Second Amendment does not permit balancing tests such as weighing enumerated
U.S. v. Missouri — Amicus Brief
Today, our firm filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in support of Missouri’s Second Amendment Preservation Act which declares that certain federal firearms restrictions violate the Second Amendment rights of Missourians. Our brief argued that the district court did not properly understand the Constitution’s Supremacy Clause, and that it also violates
Wade v. Regents of the University of Michigan — Court of Appeals Amicus Brief
Today, our firm, with Kerry Morgan of Wyandotte, Michigan, filed an amicus brief in support of a challenge to the University of Michigan’s complete ban against possession of firearms by all students. The case is on remand from the Michigan Supreme Court where we previously filed an amicus brief in this case.
Ehlert v. Settle — Reply in Support of Summary Judgment
Today, our firm, with David Browne of Spiro & Browne, PLC, file a Reply in Defendant’s Brief in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment in a challenge to Virginia’s ban on handgun sales to adults under 21. Previously, a temporary injunction was granted pending consideration of the challenge.
Antonyuk v. Nigrelli — Answering Brief to State of New York
Today, our firm filed an answering brief in response to the State of New York in its appeal of the injunction of New York’s CCIA.