By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—SCOTUS: United States v. Hemani: a narrow decision affirming the Appeals Court dismissal of Hemani’s original indictment; Federal: NSSF announced the introduction of two new bills dealing with Licensee Protection and Outrageous Lawsuits; States: California: four bills awaiting more votes in the Senate on June 23; Massachusetts: S3062 passed in the House dealing with hunting issues that were supportive of Sunday hunting; Politics: June 16 runoff election in Georgia—Rick Jackson won the Republican runoff for Governor and now faces Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms; California Primary election: The two candidates advancing to the November general election are Xavier Becerra (D) and Steve Hilton (R).
U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS)
Since SCOTUS issued a decision in United States v. Hemani, No. 24‑1234 (U.S. Sup. Ct.) on Thursday, I want to give a short summary of that case and will review it in depth in the June 24 Judicial Report.
Decision: On June 18, the Supreme Court unanimously held that applying 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) to a Texas man who used marijuana “every other day” violated the Second Amendment as applied, affirming the dismissal of his indictment. The Court concluded that the government failed to show that disarming a non‑dangerous, casual user of an illegal drug is consistent with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation under the Bruen/Rahimi framework. The opinion emphasizes its narrow scope, explicitly leaving intact federal bans on felons, addicts, and those currently intoxicated, and maintaining prosecutions where the government can prove dangerousness.
Why it matters: This is the Court’s first merits ruling applying Bruen to a status‑based federal disqualifier and will immediately influence § 922(g)(3) prosecutions, prompting as‑applied challenges by marijuana users and litigation over what constitutes “dangerous” drug use.
Federal
The Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act, S. 4671,
On June 4, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) introduced the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act, S. 4671. The bill would strengthen and enhance criminal penalties for thefts of firearms from federally licensed firearm retailers. This legislation sends a strong message to those violent criminals engaging in these illicit activities and helps provide for safer communities, assists law enforcement, and protects the livelihoods of firearm retailers.
“This legislation is what true gun safety looks like,” said Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for NSSF. “Congress is sending a clear message that the safety of our communities is nonnegotiable and targeting firearm retailers to steal guns in order to commit further crimes is intolerable. The firearm industry is grateful to Senator Lindsey Graham for providing those firearm retailers who follow the law the protection they deserve. This legislation assigns the responsibility for crime where it belongs – with the criminal. These are real solutions that make our communities safer.”
The FFL Protection Act builds on the efforts NSSF has taken to address robbery and burglary of firearms through the cooperative initiative with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Additionally, NSSF helps educate firearm retailers on steps they can take to reduce the chance guns will be stolen from them during a burglary or robbery, and in cooperation with ATF, conducts retailer store security seminars, assists retailers with store security audits of their premises, and endorses and promotes the use of security products like smash-resistant display cases.
S. 4671 and H.R. 9298, The Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts (SHOT) Act
In early June 2026, NSSF announced the introduction of “The SHOT Act” in both the Senate and the House. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) sponsored S. 4671 in the U.S. Senate, while a few days later, Representative Derek Schmidt (R-Kansas) sponsored H.R. 9298 in the House of Representatives.
The legislation aims to prevent frivolous public nuisance lawsuits that have been permitted in 11 states under vague “reasonable” liability standards. The SHOT Act would enhance PLCAA protections to ensure that responsible and law-abiding manufacturers and retailers of firearms, ammunition, and component parts are not unjustly held liable in federal and state civil cases for “the harm caused by those who criminally or unlawfully misuse” these products that are used as designed and intended.
“The SHOT Act would strengthen the PLCAA to close manufactured gaps created over time by misguided court decisions that have allowed frivolous lawsuits against members of the firearm industry—lawsuits Congress intended to prohibit more than 20 years ago,” said NSSF’s Keane. “This legal warfare is mainly supported by gun control activists, antigun politicians, and large ‘white-shoe’ law firms seeking to blame industry members for the criminal and unlawful misuse of well-designed, legally sold products. These lawsuits aim to bankrupt the firearm industry and push for gun control measures through litigation.”
The PLCAA was enacted over 20 years ago with strong bipartisan support from Congress. The law bans frivolous lawsuits against manufacturers of firearms, ammunition, and parts for the criminal or unlawful use of legally-made and sold products. It was passed after years of politically-driven lawsuits that attempted “regulation-through-litigation” to force policy from the courts, which was explicitly rejected by Congress.
Further, the PLCAA was intended to halt frivolous lawsuits designed to bankrupt the firearm and ammunition industry through “death by a thousand cuts” in legal fees incurred defending against lawsuits that lack legal merit. Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the PLCAA when it rejected Mexico’s frivolous claims in Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., et al v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, the $10 billion claim against U.S. firearm manufacturers for the criminal violence caused by narco-terrorists in Mexico.
However, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Washington, and now Virginia have enacted public nuisance laws to facilitate lawsuits under the vague idea of “reasonable” liability standards. Suing firearm and ammunition companies for the criminal misuse of their legal products is like suing a hardware store if a hammer it sells is used in a murder or a car manufacturer if one of its cars is used intentionally to run someone over or in a deadly accident caused by a driver under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
State Legislatures
California: The California legislature still manages to produce more anti-Second Amendment legislation.
Week of June 23: All four bills listed below originated in the California State Assembly and have passed out of the Assembly. They are now under consideration in Senate committees, either awaiting scheduled hearings or having recently advanced from committee.
AB 1743—Committee Action: Advanced by Senate Public Safety Committee
- Expands the state’s firearm owner data-sharing system by increasing access to information in California’s Automated Firearms System and related databases. This expansion raises serious concerns because the California DOJ revealed the personal information of thousands of firearm owners and concealed carry permit holders in a widely reported 2022 data breach.
AB 1753—Committee Action: Advanced by Senate Public Safety Committee
- Purports to “clarify” California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) violation framework by explicitly including ammunition possession in the same hearing and enforcement procedures currently applied to firearms. Existing red flag laws in California should not be expanded under the guise of “clarification” but should be repealed.
AB 1810—Scheduled Hearing: Senate Public Safety Committee — June 23
- Expands the California DOJ’s authority to remove licensed firearm dealers from the state’s centralized list, including for certain licensing and inspection violations. The bill also mandates targeted annual inspections and could force otherwise lawful dealers out of business through burdensome regulations.
AB 2047—Scheduled Hearing: Senate Judiciary Committee — June 23
- Targets three-dimensional printers by restricting their sale or transfer unless equipped with so-called “firearm blueprint detection algorithms.” The bill represents a broad attack on lawful technology and raises concerns about free speech, innovation, and the rights of law-abiding Californians.
Massachusetts: Last week, we reported that provisions related to Sunday hunting, turkey hunting, crossbow hunting, and archery — which had been removed from the House budget — were reinstated in a bond bill, S.3064. The House voted on that bill in an emergency session and passed it unanimously. S.3064 now goes back to the Senate for further action.
Politics
June 16, 2026, runoff election in Georgia
Although the NRA Political Victory endorsement supported current Lt. Governor Burt Jones to become governor, and President Donald Trump gave a “complete and total” endorsement to Jones in the 2026 Republican primary for governor, he was defeated by Rick Jackson, who will now face Democratic nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms, the former Mayor of Atlanta, in the Nov. 3 general election. The Georgia governor’s race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country, as Georgia remains a closely contested swing state.
California Primary Election
Results in some close races are still being counted, with full certification expected by July 10, 2026. California held its statewide primary on June 2 using its “jungle primary” format, where the top two vote-getters advance to the November 3 general election regardless of party.
Governor’s Race
The two candidates advancing to the November general election are Xavier Becerra (D) and Steve Hilton (R). Becerra, a former U.S. Secretary of HHS and California Attorney General, led the field with 28.1% of the vote (about 2.58 million votes). Trump-endorsed former Fox News commentator Hilton finished second with 24.7% (around 2.27 million votes).
CA-14 Special Election
Separately, California held a special primary on June 16 for the 14th Congressional District seat vacated by Eric Swalwell, who resigned amid sexual assault allegations. Candidates Aisha Wahab and Melissa Hernandez secured the top two spots in that primary, ensuring the seat will stay Democratic heading into the August 18 special general election.
