On April 30, Senator Adam Schiff from California introduced the “Assault Weapons Ban of 2025.” This legislation aims to prohibit commonly owned semi-automatic firearms, including the AR-15. A week prior, Illinois State Senator Celina Villanueva proposed SB2652, known as the “Responsible Gun Manufacturing Act,” with a companion House bill HB4045 following shortly after. These bills target the widely used Glock semi-automatic handguns.
Critics argue that such bans contradict U.S. Supreme Court precedent on the Second Amendment. In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), Justice Antonin Scalia clarified that firearms “in common use at the time” for lawful purposes like self-defense are protected by the Second Amendment.
Justice Clarence Thomas, in a dissent from denial of certiorari in Friedman v. Highland Park (2015), emphasized that several Courts of Appeals have upheld bans on firearms commonly owned for lawful purposes, which he described as noncompliance with Second Amendment precedents.
Justice Thomas stated: “Roughly five million Americans own AR-style semiautomatic rifles. The overwhelming majority of citizens who own and use such rifles do so for lawful purposes, including self-defense and target shooting.”
In Staples v. United States (1994), the Supreme Court recognized semi-automatic rifles as common, determining that mere possession does not imply intent for conviction unless individuals are aware of strict regulation requirements.
The popularity of AR-15s is significant; about one in 20 American adults reportedly owns at least one AR-15 according to polling data cited by The Washington Post. The National Shooting Sports Foundation estimated over 30 million modern sporting rifles have been produced since 1990.
Glock pistols also face legislative scrutiny despite their widespread use and reliability claims. Industry data shows Glock produced over a million handguns in recent years within the U.S., while Austria accounted for millions more in imports.
Glock’s reputation extends to being a standard sidearm for numerous federal agencies and law enforcement units worldwide. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has claimed ownership of a Glock pistol.
These legislative efforts reflect ongoing debates around gun control measures and their alignment with constitutional rights under current judicial interpretations.
