A landmark ruling by a major appeals court has given a triumphant win to Second Amendment supporters.
For far too long, officials in New Jersey have been trying to keep AR-15 “assault weapons” out of the hands of private gun owners, enacting a rather unfair ban. But a federal appeals court has finally knocked down said ban, and this pleases Gun Owners of America spokesman Stephen Willeford quite a bit.
- A federal appeals court ruled that New Jersey’s ban on assault firearms went completely against the Second Amendment of the Constitution.
- As a result, magazines that can hold 10 or more rounds of ammunition can be made available to private gun owners and others that qualify.
- New Jersey attorney general Jennifer Davenport, a longtime supporter of the ban, said the state is “considering our options” on what to do next.
This marks the first instance in which a federal appeals court has specifically ruled on such a ban, and it comes at a crucial time, with the U.S. Supreme Court reportedly into expanded enforcement over such bans. (The first arguments are expected in the fall.)
The appeals court decision definitely goes miles ahead of a similar decision made back in July 2024, when a federal judge said such a ban was unconstitutional, but allowed the provision surrounding larger magazines.
Jennifer Davenport, the attorney general for New Jersey, expressed disappointment in the decision, but vowed that the state wasn’t done yet. “Assault weapons and large capacity magazines play a dangerous role in the modern epidemic of mass shootings, and New Jersey acted reasonably and lawfully in restricting them. We are considering our options.”
So what happens next? And, for that matter, should the Supreme Court take such a decision into consideration for their arguments?
Willeford, who himself is a firm believer in everyone’s right to bear arms, joins us now to discuss the situation further. We welcome him to the show!
Q&A:
- What do you think about this crucial decision surrounding New Jersey’s AR-15 ban being done away with?
- Why do you think Davenport and other officials in the state were so concerned about putting such a ban into place? Does her reasoning surrounding “mass shootings” make any sense?
- What happens next? Could New Jersey figure out another restriction of some kind?
- Should the Supreme Court take this particular decision into consideration when it comes to nationwide enforcement arguments, which are slated for this fall?
- Are other states, such as California and New York, likely to pay attention to what happens with this case, since they have similar bans in effect?
- Where do you see the argument surrounding gun rights going as 2026 continues onward?
- You recently wrote a book called A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy, revolving around your 2017 “hero with a gun” situation. Tell us more about how this came together, and why it’s such an important read right now.
- Where can people find your book?
- Where can we learn more about you, as well as Gun Owners of America?
- You can learn more at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com. You can also read more about the Gun Owners of America at https://www.gunowners.org/.
About Stephen Willeford…
Stephen represents Gun Owners of America and is known around the country as the “good guy with the gun” for helping stop the largest Texas mass shooting in the history of the state in 2017. He is available to speak about all gun rights issues, as well as the importance of Gun Owners of America. He is the author of the book A Town Called Sutherland Springs: Faith and Heroism Through Tragedy. You can read more about him at http://www.thebarefootdefender.com.
CONTACT: Todd Baumann at 512-966-0983 or by email Jerry McGlothlin at bookings@specialguests.com.
