US Supreme Court Expands Gun Rights, Signals More Second Amendment Cases Ahead

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Washington: The US Supreme Court has further expanded protections for gun ownership under the Constitution's Second Amendment, issuing two recent rulings that strengthen the legal position of gun rights advocates and could pave the way for additional decisions on firearms restrictions.

In a 6-3 ruling, the court struck down a Hawaii law requiring gun owners to obtain permission before carrying handguns onto private property open to the public, such as businesses. In a separate unanimous decision last week, the justices also narrowed the application of a federal law that prohibits certain drug users from possessing firearms.

Legal experts said the rulings reinforce the court's increasingly strict standard for evaluating gun control measures, making it more difficult for governments to defend firearm restrictions.

The decisions come as the court considers whether to hear several major gun rights cases in its next term, including challenges to state bans on assault-style rifles such as AR-15s, restrictions on large-capacity magazines and laws preventing federally licensed gun dealers from selling handguns to adults under 21.

Gun rights groups have urged the court to take up these cases, arguing that lower courts have failed to fully apply the Supreme Court's previous rulings expanding Second Amendment protections.

Pic Credit: AFP