The Supreme Court, the Second Amendment, and the Future of Gun Rights

In this episode of Amicus: A Law Review, host Jim Santelle continues his summer series examining the most significant U.S. Supreme Court decisions from the 2025–2026 term. This week, the focus turns to the Second Amendment and the evolving constitutional landscape surrounding gun rights in America. Drawing from landmark cases such as District of Columbia v. Heller and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, Jim explains how the Court's interpretation of the right to keep and bear arms has changed over time and how those decisions continue to shape modern firearms law.

The episode also explores the Court's newest rulings involving firearm possession by marijuana users, concealed carry restrictions on private property, domestic violence restraining orders, and regulations on ghost guns. Jim breaks down what these decisions mean for gun owners, lawmakers, and the courts while previewing a major case the Supreme Court will hear next term on state bans of semiautomatic rifles. Whether you're interested in constitutional law, public policy, or the future of the Second Amendment, this episode provides the historical context and legal analysis needed to understand one of the nation's most debated constitutional rights.