At least five petitions challenging state-level assault weapons bans (covering AR-style rifles and similar firearms) are currently before the Supreme Court — and the justices have declined to act on any of them, apparently waiting until they decide Wolford v. Lopez and U.S. v. Hemani first. The decisions in those cases, expected by late June 2026, could establish doctrinal frameworks that either open the door to striking down hardware bans or allow states more latitude. The stakes are high: a ruling upholding hardware bans could effectively settle the AR-15 question for years; a ruling striking them down would reshape the legal landscape in states like California, Illinois, and Massachusetts.
Source: SCOTUSblog — Second Amendment landscape 2026
Discussion question: Do you think the Supreme Court will take up an assault weapons ban case this term or next? And if they do, what kind of ruling do you think would actually hold up legally after Bruen?