Brandishing a Firearm: What Counts, State by State
Brandishing a firearm means showing a gun in a threatening way. See what 6 states actually punish, the federal definition, and when self-defense applies.
Gun-owner reference desk
Plain-English references worth bookmarking — NFA rules, carry law, and the gear terms behind every review.
2A & gun-law glossary
| 2026 at a glance | |
|---|---|
| NFA tax stamp | $0 |
| Permitless carry | 29 states |
| Suppressors legal | 42 states |
50+ NFA, carry and gun-law terms in plain English, updated for 2026.
Open the glossary → NetworkGun & gear glossary
| Term | Category |
|---|---|
| Striker-fired | Action |
| MOA | Optics |
| Twist rate | Ballistics |
30 gun, ammo and optics terms, from Guns & Gadgets Daily.
View full chart →Reader Favorites
Gun RightsThe 3 Biggest 2A Fights Happening Right NowAction AlertsIs the NFA Unconstitutional? Jensen v. ATFGun RightsConstitutional Carry States in 2026Concealed Carry Reciprocity by StateLaws & RightsSBR Rules After the 2026 NFA ChangesSecond Amendment NewsSCOTUS Takes Up the Assault Weapons BanGun RightsState-by-State Gun Law RoundupBreaking NewsNational Reciprocity Act: Where It StandsLaws & RightsThe Civic Toolkit: Track, Verify, ActBreaking News5th Circuit: Suppressors Are Arms
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Can You Shoot Someone for Trespassing? What the Law Says
Can you shoot someone for trespassing? Not for trespass alone. Deadly force needs a threat of death or a forcible felony. Texas 9.42 is the rare exception.
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What the Federal Lands Lawful Carry Act Means for Gun Owners in National Parks
Reps. Yakym and Fallon introduced the Federal Lands Lawful Carry Act (H.R. 9719) to let you carry a firearm in national park buildings where state law allows. Here is what it does.
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SBR Registration on Trial: Coalition Asks Sixth Circuit to Strike NFA Rules
SBR registration faces its most direct constitutional test yet. Inside the NRA-FPC brief in U.S. v. Machamer — and the stakes for 1.1 million registered rifles.
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Can You Hunt With a Suppressor? The Legal Picture, State by State
Can you hunt with a suppressor? In most states, yes — but two separate legal layers decide it: federal ownership and your state’s hunting rules. The full picture.
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NFA Registration for Suppressors and SBRs Struck Down: Where It Stands Now
A federal court struck down NFA registration for suppressors and short-barreled rifles. What changed on August 13, who the order covers, and whether the government has appealed.
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Are Suppressors Legal? A State-by-State Guide for 2026
Are suppressors legal where you live? A clear state-by-state guide to suppressor laws in 2026, the federal rules, and what recent court rulings change.
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Federal Gun Rights Restoration Returns: What DOJ’s Rule Requires
Federal gun rights restoration reopens September 21 after 34 years. See who can apply, what DOJ’s rule requires, and what the relief will not cover.
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“Can a Felon Own a Gun” Has No Single Answer — Here Is What Decides It
Can a felon own a gun? Federal law, state law, and the new DOJ restoration rule each answer differently. Here are the four tests that decide it in 2026.
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Trump v. CASA and the Death of the Universal Injunction: Why Only Members Are Covered
One June 2025 Supreme Court case decides who gets to buy a suppressor without a Form 4 in August 2026. How Trump v. CASA killed the universal injunction, what survived, and the class-action playbook no NFA plaintiff has used yet.
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Taxing Power, Not the Second Amendment: The Real Legal Theory Behind the NFA Ruling
The August 5 NFA ruling never reached the Second Amendment. It turned on Article I taxing power and a tax Congress set to $0 — the same logic that decided the Obamacare cases.
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Brown, Roberts, and the Race to the Circuits: The Three-Case Map to the Supreme Court
Three federal cases press the same post-$0-tax theory in three circuits. A dated status tracker for Silencer Shop Foundation/Jensen, Brown, and Roberts.
