Supreme Court Leaves Felon and Misdemeanor Gun Bans Intact

The Supreme Court declined to hear 22 gun rights cases on November 9, 2026, leaving federal felon-disarmament laws, misdemeanor-based gun bans, and pre-conviction firearm restrictions in place without constitutional review.

Snapshot

AmmoLand reports that the Court's November 9 orders list rejected 22 Second Amendment petitions, including 16 challenges to felony-based firearm prohibitions. Washington Gun Law President William Kirk walked through the denials in a November 10 video, calling attention to what remains unresolved even as the justices prepare for a major December 2 hearing on semiautomatic rifle bans.

Key points

• Felon bans upheld by default: Cases like Foster v. United States and Barge v. United States, which argued lifetime gun prohibitions shouldn't apply to nonviolent felony convictions, were both denied review.
• Misdemeanor DUI disarmament stands: The Court let Washington state's law stripping gun rights after a second qualifying DUI misdemeanor within seven years remain in effect, per Holloway v. Brown.
• Pre-conviction restrictions untouched: Trevino v. United States challenged 18 U.S.C. § 922(n), which bars people under indictment from receiving firearms before any conviction; that challenge was also turned away.
• Domestic violence misdemeanors: Minor v. United States questioned lifetime bans tied to misdemeanor domestic violence convictions without a judicial dangerousness finding; the Court declined to take it up.
• Bigger cases still pending: The justices will hear Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins on December 2, both involving semiautomatic rifle restrictions, with the Solicitor General now cleared to participate.

Quick take

AmmoLand frames these denials as a reminder that cert denials aren't rulings on the merits, but Kirk argues the practical effect is the same for people living under these restrictions. Worth watching whether the December AR-15 arguments produce the kind of historical-tradition analysis these other petitions never got.

Read the full story: ammoland.com