“California gun owners face a relentless fight.”
And they always have. I miss California. I spent my whole life in Southern California. But I left in 2018 because it felt like a losing battle. I wanted to live somewhere my right to self-defense wasn’t constantly under attack. I pray for those still fighting in California. If they win, it’s a victory for the entire nation.
As California gun owners, we’re used to fighting for our rights against a backdrop of tight restrictions. Here’s the latest on the battles shaping our Second Amendment freedoms.
The Supreme Court is staying on the sidelines, declining to hear cases that could reshape gun rights. On June 2, 2025, they passed on two cases, Snope v. Brown (Maryland) and Ocean State Tactical v. Rhode Island, which challenged bans on AR-15s and magazines holding over 10 rounds. This keeps California’s strict laws intact for now. Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissented, arguing that the Second Amendment is being treated like a second-class right. Justice Kavanaugh hinted AR-15 cases might get a look soon, possibly next term. With Bruen demanding that gun laws match historical precedent, the legal battle is heating up.
The House passed the Hearing Protection Act as part of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, on May 21, 2025. This could remove sound suppressors from the National Firearms Act, eliminating the $200 tax stamp and ATF paperwork. For most of America, this would make suppressors as accessible as a holster, protecting hearing and reducing noise. But California suppressors for most civilians, so we’re left out unless state law changes. This federal push is a win for gun owners elsewhere, but here, we’re still stuck.
By Jon Fleischman
