Supreme Court Narrows Law Banning Drug Users From Owning Guns

The Supreme Court on Thursday narrowed a federal law that banned drug users and addicts from owning or possessing guns.The justices ruled that the law was overbroad, sweeping together recreational drug users with people addicted to drugs who posed a danger to public safety.Justice Neil M.Gorsuch wrote the decision.

All of the justices agreed with the outcome, although several wrote separately to explain their decision-making.The case, U.S.

v.Hemani, was one of two major gun rights cases to come before the Supreme Court this term, providing opportunities for the court to clarify how to apply a test set out by the justices in a landmark Second Amendment ruling in 2022.

In that case, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc.v.

Bruen, the justices required courts to analyze the constitutionality of gun restrictions based on the country’s “history and tradition” of firearms regulation.The case decided on Thursday drew additional interest because it involved the same statute that had been used to convict President Joseph R.Biden Jr.’s son Hunter in 2024.

(Mr.Biden pardoned his son just days before leaving office, shielding him from the threat of prison.)We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

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