Weekly Spotlight 5/16/25 – 5/23/25

Senate Introduction of an “Assault Weapons” Ban Undermines Second Amendment Rights

The United States Senate is currently considering S.1531, a bill framed as a so-called “Assault Weapons Ban.” But make no mistake—this proposal represents a sweeping and dangerous overreach that would undermine the constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans.

At the heart of S.1531 is a troubling premise: that the government should be allowed to determine the limits of citizens’ right to keep and bear arms. In fact, the bill openly states its intent to “ensure that the right to keep and bear arms is not unlimited.” This is a direct challenge to the Second Amendment and the fundamental right of self-defense it guarantees to Americans across the country.

Rather than targeting criminals or focusing on enforcement of existing laws, S.1531 seeks to restrict access to commonly owned firearms—the very tools that millions of responsible Americans use for their own self-defense. 

If passed, this legislation would:

• Ban a broad range of firearms that are currently owned and safely used by millions of Americans.
• Limit the ability of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and their families.
• Set a dangerous precedent by treating the Second Amendment not as a guaranteed right, but as a government-granted privilege to be restricted at will.

S.1531 is a clear attempt to chip away at your Second Amendment rights under the guise of public safety. If passed, this proposal would make it harder, if not impossible, for responsible Americans to access the tools they rely on to protect themselves and their families.

Furthermore, S.1531 threatens to erode the Constitution by redefining what firearms Americans are “allowed” to own and shifting control over personal security from the individual to the state. The Framers understood that the right to self-defense is fundamental. Law abiding gun owners must continue to stand firm in defense of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution and ensure their voices are being heard in Washington, D.C.

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OTHER NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

USCCA Stands with Gun Owners to Defend Second Amendment Rights in Illinois

On Wednesday, May 14, the USCCA and gun owners across Illinois stood alongside the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) at IGOLD (Illinois Gun Owner Lobby Day) in Springfield to support and defend the Second Amendment rights of Illinoisans. By joining fellow advocates, we proudly demonstrated a continued commitment to protecting law-abiding gun owners and sent a clear message to lawmakers: responsible firearm owners across the state are united, informed, and prepared to stand up for their rights.

The Washington Post: This Year There Have Been Zero Public Deadly Mass Shootings
When it comes to crime statistics, bad news is big news. But to make sound policy, we need to hear good news, too, like the recent decline in mass shootings. As of May 10, there have been four shootings in the United States in which four or more victims died this year, compared with 11 at the same juncture last year. It’s the lowest incident count over the first four months of a year since at least 2006, when researchers started the Mass Killing Database, which is maintained by the Associated Press, USA Today and Northeastern University. The drop builds on year over year data, which shows that mass shootings declined from 39 in 2023 to 30 in 2024.

Buckeye Firearms Association: Opinion: SCOTUS Rejection Tells Anti-Gun States It’s OK To Ignore Bruen Decision
If you haven’t yet read Arbalest Quarrel’s deep dive into the Supreme Court’s failure to take up Antonyuk v. James, do so soon. You’ll see just how high the stakes really are. This companion piece isn’t meant to replace that. It’s here to underscore why the court’s refusal to grant certiorari (writ to call up the records of an inferior court) is more than disappointing — it’s dangerous. Let’s be blunt. The Supreme Court just told New York — and, by extension, every anti-gun state — that it’s OK to ignore the Bruen ruling.

Reuters: US Appeals Court Upholds Federal Ban On Felons Owning Guns
A U.S. appeals court on Friday upheld a federal law preventing felons from possessing firearms, rejecting a challenge by a California man who said the ban should not apply to non-violent felons like himself. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Pasadena, California said the government showed the “permanent and categorical disarmament” of felons was consistent with the country’s historical tradition of firearms regulation, and with the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Circuit Judge Kim McLane Wardlaw said the ban helps protect from the public from people who commit “the most serious crimes” and represent a “special danger of misuse.”

Bloomberg: Trump’s DOJ Weighs Gun Rights As A Focus For Civil Rights Division
The US Justice Department’s top civil rights official said the division is considering making gun rights a formal priority, in a significant shift from its traditional focus. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said in an interview with Bloomberg that the department is reviewing whether certain state and local gun control measures infringe on citizens’ rights. “The Second Amendment is one of the constitutional rights we are committed to defending,” Dhillon said. “We’re adding that to our analysis where states are violating constitutional rights.”

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