Weekly Spotlight 7/11/25 – 7/18/25

California Concealed Carry Decision Ruled Unconstitutional By Another Federal District Court

Last week, another Federal District Court ruled that California’s rule that prohibits out-of-state residents from obtaining concealed carry permits was unconstitutional and could not be allowed to stand under the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen.

This Federal District Court decision marks yet another significant step towards ensuring the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans are granted in one of the nation’s strictest states for gun laws.

The decision, and the Judges’ comments on the matter, underscore the simple fact that the right to defend oneself should not end at the state line. Furthermore, law-abiding Americans, regardless of the state that they are residents of, are not to have their constitutional rights tampered with based on the state they find themselves in.

Though critics continue to argue that this change will make California less safe, in fact the contrary is true. Data consistently has illustrated that concealed carry permit holders are among the most law-abiding Americans and actually make their communities safer. Additionally, the presence of a concealed carry holder, in many cases, can deter criminals that would otherwise prey on a vulnerable population that would otherwise be able to defend itself.

Additionally, this decision highlights the larger issue at play – a convoluted web of inconsistent laws from state-to-state that leaves gun owners unsure of when and where they can protect themselves and their families. Lawmakers in Washington D.C. must support to H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, which would ensure that concealed carry permits are recognized nationwide, and provide a federal framework that will clarify where and when law-abiding gun owners can exercise their rights as they cross state lines. 

This ruling marks a small victory for all Americans in the defense of individual liberties. Now, law–abiding Americans, gun owners or not, should unite to back national concealed carry reciprocity to continue this positive momentum for all Americans.

OTHER NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

Breitbart: Gun Groups File ‘One Big Beautiful Lawsuit’ To End NFA Regulations

Numerous gun groups have filed a lawsuit to eliminate the National Firearms Act (NFA) regulations that were initially targeted by the House GOP in the Big Beautiful Bill but allowed to stand after changes were made in the Senate. On May 22, 2025, Breitbart News reported that language the House used in the BBB eliminated the tax and registration requirement on suppressors. The BBB then went to the Senate where the tax and regulation on short-barrel firearms were also removed until the Senate parliamentarian rejected the language.

NewsNation: ‘Ghost Guns’ Potentially Coming Back Despite Ruling: Reports

“Ghost guns” could potentially become a thorn in the side of authorities again, despite a Supreme Court ruling from the Biden era, according to a report. The ruling required background checks and serial numbers for certain kits, requiring them to be treated like complete firearms. The rule was challenged in the Bondi v. VanDerStok federal case, but in March, the Supreme Court allowed it to stand. “The people who make them, oftentimes, and put them on the street are putting them in the hands of people who are prohibited, putting them in the hands of convicted felons” prohibited from owning completed firearms, said Bill Brooks, chair of the Firearms Committee for the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Newsweek: Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Sparks Gun Group Lawsuit Within Hours

Several gun rights groups filed a lawsuit to dismantle what is left of the National Firearms Act (NFA) shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump signed his package of tax breaks and spending cuts into law on Friday. The legislation reduced the NFA’s excise tax on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and any other weapons to $0. Gun Owners of America (GOA) and other plaintiffs argue in the lawsuit—which they have dubbed the “One Big Beautiful Lawsuit”—that the Supreme Court had upheld the NFA as a tax statute and the constitutional justification for it no longer applies once the tax is eliminated.

Gun News Daily: Constitutional Carry Expands Across The U.S.

The movement known as “constitutional carry” sees a growing number of states eliminating permit requirements for carrying firearms, as ten states have already embraced this change in the last seven years. Recently, New Hampshire joined this trend, leading to potential legislative actions in at least twenty more states, including Indiana and Texas, as advocates argue it restores foundational rights linked to the Second Amendment. Supporters of constitutional carry assert that it reflects the intention of the founding fathers, while opponents raise concerns about public safety and the implications for law enforcement encounters.

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