A groundbreaking ruling: federal court nullifies law barring drug user gun possession. Gun laws face transformation, opening doors to legal challenges, altering U.S. firearm landscape.
Focus on the Gun Control Act of 1968: bars firearm possession for “unlawful users” of controlled substances. Challenged repeatedly, court now deems it unconstitutional, reshaping legal landscape.
5th Circuit Court asserts Second Amendment violation; gun ban lacks precise purpose. Prevention of drug-related gun violence deemed insufficient to deny all drug users gun rights.
Law critique extends: no separation of casual users from addicts. Unfairly impinges rights. Victory for gun rights supporters, federal law’s constitutionality questioned, marijuana legalization’s impact considered.
Ruling confines to federal drug user gun ownership ban, states retain law-making power. States face stricter criteria to curb drug user gun ownership, meeting government interests’ threshold.
