Second Amendment News: New Jersey’s AR-15 Ban Struck Down (July 2026)

Here is your Second Amendment news this week: five gun rights stories that actually matter, and what each one means for you. It was one of the biggest weeks for the Second Amendment in years. A federal appeals court struck down a state “assault weapons” ban for the first time, the ATF moved to make buying a suppressor dramatically easier, and gun-rights groups opened a new front in court. Let’s get into it.

The biggest Second Amendment news this week, at a glance

• Third Circuit strikes down New Jersey’s AR-15 and magazine bans — the first federal appeals court ever to invalidate a state assault-weapons ban.
• The Supreme Court’s AR-15 showdown gets closer — the justices will hear the Illinois and Connecticut ban challenges this fall.
• ATF moves to drop fingerprint and photo rules for suppressors and NFA items — part of a rollback of 30-plus gun regulations.
• The ATF “engaged in the business” rule stays vacated — the DOJ asks a Texas court to narrow the win.
• Gun Owners of America sues the U.S. Virgin Islands — challenging a ban on non-residents carrying firearms.

1. Federal appeals court strikes down New Jersey’s ‘assault weapons’ and magazine bans

In the most consequential ruling of the week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, sitting en banc, struck down New Jersey’s bans on so-called “assault firearms” and large-capacity magazines as violations of the Second Amendment. The decision in Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs v. Attorney General came down on July 17 by a 10–5 vote, with Judge Freeman writing for the majority.

The court held that semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15 are “arms” protected by the Constitution, and that magazines holding more than 10 rounds are integral components of those firearms. Applying the Supreme Court’s Bruen test, the majority found that these firearms are “in common use for lawful purposes,” noting that roughly 24 million AR-15–style rifles are already in civilian hands for self-defense, hunting, competition, and pest control. In dissent, Judge Patty Shwartz argued the majority read the historical record through a “contemporary lens.”

Why it matters: This is the first time a federal appeals court has thrown out a state assault-weapons ban outright. As a result, it deepens a split among the circuits — other courts have upheld nearly identical laws — which is exactly the kind of disagreement the Supreme Court usually steps in to resolve. Read the full ruling summary at JURIST, or go deeper with our in-depth breakdown of the New Jersey AR-15 ruling.

2. The Supreme Court’s AR-15 showdown moves closer

The New Jersey ruling landed just as the country waits on the biggest Second Amendment case in a generation. Earlier this summer, the Supreme Court agreed to hear consolidated challenges to the assault-weapons bans in Illinois and Connecticut, squarely teeing up the question of whether the Second Amendment protects possession of semi-automatic rifles. Oral arguments are expected this fall, with a decision likely by mid-2027.

Meanwhile, legal analysts spent the week connecting the dots. Commentary around the pending Viramontes litigation argued that the same “common use” logic the Third Circuit just applied is what could ultimately doom AR-15 bans nationwide. With one appeals court now on record striking a ban down and others upholding them, the justices will have a fully developed split in front of them.

Why it matters: A ruling in favor of gun owners could invalidate “assault weapons” bans in roughly 10 states at once. Ultimately, this is the case to watch — and this week’s New Jersey decision may be a preview of how the high court reasons. You can track the docket at SCOTUSblog.

3. ATF moves to drop fingerprint and photo rules for suppressors and NFA items

On the regulatory side, the ATF advanced a proposal to eliminate the long-standing fingerprint and photograph requirements for National Firearms Act (NFA) applications — the paperwork that covers suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns. The proposed rule, published in the Federal Register in early July, is part of a broader Department of Justice and ATF effort to roll back more than 30 firearms regulations. A public comment period is open now.

For suppressor buyers, the timing is notable. The $200 NFA transfer tax on suppressors and SBRs was eliminated at the start of 2026, and dropping the fingerprint-card-and-photo step would remove one more hurdle from the process. Together, the changes point toward the simplest suppressor-buying experience in the 90-year history of the NFA. If you want the current step-by-step picture, our sister site PopularSuppressors.com keeps an updated guide to the process.

Why it matters: Less paperwork and no transfer tax mean suppressor ownership is becoming far more accessible. In short, if you have been on the fence about hearing protection that actually works, this is the friendliest regulatory environment suppressors have ever seen.

4. The ATF ‘engaged in the business’ rule stays vacated — for now

In State of Texas v. ATF, the Justice Department filed a motion asking the court to narrow an earlier decision that had wiped out the ATF’s controversial “engaged in the business” rule — the regulation that expanded who counts as a firearms dealer required to run background checks. The DOJ asked the court to limit its remedy to the four specific provisions it found unlawful, rather than vacating the whole rule.

However, the key takeaway from this week is simple: the entire rule remains vacated while the court considers that request. For now, the broadened dealer definition is not in effect.

Why it matters: This rule was one of the most far-reaching firearms regulations of the last few years, sweeping many private and occasional sellers into federal licensing requirements. Consequently, how the court resolves the DOJ’s motion will decide whether any piece of it survives.

5. Gun Owners of America sues the U.S. Virgin Islands over a carry ban

Finally, Gun Owners of America and the Gun Owners Foundation filed a new lawsuit this week challenging the U.S. Virgin Islands’ restrictions on non-residents carrying firearms. The suit argues the territory’s scheme unconstitutionally denies visiting American citizens their right to bear arms — a right the groups say does not stop at a territorial border.

It caps what one outlet called a rough week in court for the territory’s gun laws, and it fits a broader post-Bruen pattern of advocacy groups methodically targeting residency-based and non-resident carry restrictions around the country. You can read the GOA announcement here.

Why it matters: Non-resident and residency-based carry limits affect millions of law-abiding travelers. A win here would reinforce that the right to carry follows the citizen, not their zip code — with implications well beyond the Virgin Islands.

The bottom line on this week’s gun rights news

The through-line is momentum. An appeals court struck down an “assault weapons” ban for the first time, the Supreme Court is about to weigh in on the same question, regulators are peeling back NFA red tape, and grassroots groups keep filing. Nothing here is final — the New Jersey ruling can be appealed, the ATF proposals are still in comment, and the big Supreme Court decision is months away — but the direction of travel is unmistakable. Catch up on last week’s Second Amendment news roundup, and browse our full Second Amendment News coverage for the stories behind the headlines. We will keep tracking every step in next week’s roundup.

More 2A developments in the courts this week

The New Jersey decision was the headline, but it was a busy week in the courts. Here are our full breakdowns of the other fights worth watching:

• New Jersey’s assault weapons ban struck down — what the Third Circuit ruling actually means.
• Virginia’s assault weapons ban blocked statewide — inside the Santolla v. Katz injunction.
• Maryland’s Glock ban (SB 334) heads to court — gun groups move to freeze it before 2027.
• The post office carry ban falls for good — the DOJ drops its appeal.

Second Amendment news this week: FAQ

Did a court really strike down an assault weapons ban this week?

Yes. On July 17, 2026, the en banc Third Circuit Court of Appeals struck down New Jersey’s bans on “assault firearms” and magazines holding more than 10 rounds, ruling 10–5 that they violate the Second Amendment. It is the first federal appeals court to invalidate a state assault-weapons ban.

Does the New Jersey ruling make AR-15s legal everywhere?

No. The decision binds the states in the Third Circuit (New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware) and can still be appealed. Other appeals courts have upheld similar bans, which is why the Supreme Court’s upcoming case is so important.

Is the Supreme Court going to rule on AR-15 bans?

The Court has agreed to hear challenges to the Illinois and Connecticut assault-weapons bans, with oral arguments expected in fall 2026 and a decision likely by mid-2027. It is widely viewed as the most significant Second Amendment case since Bruen.

Is it getting easier to buy a suppressor in 2026?

It appears to be. The $200 NFA transfer tax on suppressors was eliminated at the start of 2026, and the ATF has proposed removing the fingerprint and photograph requirements from NFA applications. Those changes are still in a public comment period, but together they would significantly streamline the process.

What is the ATF “engaged in the business” rule?

It is a regulation that broadened the definition of who counts as a firearms dealer required to obtain a license and run background checks. A federal court vacated the rule, and as of this week it remains vacated while the court weighs a DOJ request to narrow that outcome.

Sources: JURIST, U.S. News/Reuters, Fox News, SCOTUSblog, Bearing Arms, Ammoland, the Federal Register, the SAF Grassroots Judicial Report, Gun Owners of America, and the Daily Caller.

Chad

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