By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—November 4 was not a success for Second Amendment supporters; The BATFE has published proposed changes to the ATF Form 1, the application for making or registering a firearm regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA). Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma Governors signed proclamations in early November designating November as Wild Meat Donation Mont; Michigan: The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on House Bill 4284, which would reduce the Concealed Pistol License (CPL) renewal fee from $115 to $30; North Carolina: The veto override vote of SB50 has been rescheduled for Nov. 17; Florida legislators introduce 13 new gun-related legislative proposals for the 2026 session, prompted by recent court rulings overturning parts of the state’s post-Parkland gun laws.
Politics
The Washington Post summarized the 2025 election, suggesting that these results collectively signaled strong Democratic momentum and voter opposition to Trump’s approach, with voters in all three states expressing concern over economic and national issues during his second term.
Maine voters overwhelmingly approved Question 2 on Nov. 4, establishing a “red flag” law with 60% of the vote. The measure, officially known as an extreme risk protection order (ERPO), marks a significant victory for gun safety advocates following the October 2023 Lewiston mass shooting that claimed 18 lives. Unlike Maine’s existing “yellow flag” law—which required law enforcement to place individuals in protective custody before seeking court orders to remove firearms—the new red flag law allows family members and household members to petition courts directly for the temporary removal of weapons from individuals deemed a significant danger to themselves or others. The law is scheduled to take effect in January 2026, and Maine will join more than 20 other states with similar legislation.
The referendum campaign uncovered significant divisions within Maine’s gun community. Governor Janet Mills and leading gun rights organizations, including the Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, opposed the measure, arguing that it was unnecessary because of the existing yellow flag law and could lead to confusion. However, law enforcement officials testified that Maine’s yellow flag law was “cumbersome, inefficient, and unduly restrictive regarding who can initiate a proceeding” to remove firearms. Despite this opposition, the measure passed convincingly in Lewiston, where voters supported it by a 36-percentage-point margin.
California: California voters approved Proposition 50, a ballot initiative to redraw the state’s congressional districts.
New Jersey: Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill was elected governor. Sherrill has championed gun control legislation while in Congress, serving on the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force and helping pass the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The election outcome signals a continued commitment to New Jersey’s position as a leader in gun control legislation..
Pennsylvania: The races for control of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court marked a significant victory for Democrats, as they maintained judicial power in a state key to national election law and civil rights cases.
Virginia: In elections held on Nov. 5, Virginia voters elected Democrat Abigail Spanberger as governor, establishing a gun safety “trifecta” with Democratic control across all state government levels for the first time in four years. Spanberger, a former CIA case officer and federal law enforcement officer, campaigned on gun safety platforms including cracking down on ghost guns, requiring secure firearm storage, and restricting high-capacity magazines. All 13 Moms Demand Action volunteers who ran for the House of Delegates won their races, flipping four seats and comprising 20 percent of the incoming Democratic majority in the House. Election Day polling conducted by Everytown found that 84 percent of Virginia voters support keeping gun laws as they are or strengthening them, and 75 percent reported that candidates’ positions on guns were important to their vote choice. All in all, Nov. 4 was not a success for Second Amendment supporters.
Congress
H.R. 5874, Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act
In response to the ongoing government shutdown and disruptions to federal firearm operations, bipartisan legislation has been introduced to maintain essential services. Senator James Risch (R-Idaho) introduced S. 3085, and Representative Ben Cline (R-Va.) introduced H.R. 5874, both of which are called the Firearm Access During Shutdowns Act. These companion bills specify firearm-related government functions as essential, including the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), enforcement by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and firearm export licensing activities. The legislation has received significant bipartisan support: 26 Republican co-sponsors in the House, such as Representatives Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Nancy Mace (R-SC), and Wesley Hunt (R-TX), and 9 Republican co-sponsors in the Senate, including Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS). The House version has been sent to the Committees on the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs, while the Senate version is under review by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
BATFE
The BATFE has published proposed changes to the ATF Form 1, the application for making or registering a firearm regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA). Comments will be accepted until midnight Dec. 1, 2025. Visit www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain to comment and find more information.
State Legislature
The following states are still in SESSION:
Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin
Wild Game Meat Donation Month
The following state Governors signed proclamations in early November designating November as Wild Meat Donation Month: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma.
Michigan: The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on House Bill 4284, which would reduce the Concealed Pistol License (CPL) renewal fee from $115 to $30.
North Carolina: The veto override vote of SB50 has been rescheduled for Nov. 17.
2026 Legislative Proposals
Florida
Target Gun Age Restrictions
Florida legislators introduce 13 new gun-related legislative proposals for the 2026 session, prompted by recent court rulings overturning parts of the state’s post-Parkland gun laws. Most notably, House Bill 133, sponsored by Rep. Tyler Sirois (R-Merritt Island), would reduce the minimum age to purchase firearms from 21 to 18, effectively reversing a key part of Florida’s response to the 2018 Parkland school shooting. Currently, 18-to-20-year-olds can receive firearms as gifts but are unable to buy them directly from licensed dealers.
Supporters of HB 133 argue that 18-year-old adults should have the same full Second Amendment rights as older adults, and that the 2018 age restriction is an unconstitutional infringement. Gun rights attorney Eric Friday states that “these 18- to 20-year-old adults never should have lost their rights because of the act of a madman in Parkland.” The bill had previously gained significant support in the House but was withdrawn from Senate consideration during the 2025 legislative session.
State Court rulings may influence other proposals
Two Florida state court rulings in late October 2025 invalidated parts of the state’s gun restrictions enacted after Parkland, raising important constitutional questions for the 2026 legislative session. Judge Frank Ledee of Broward County’s circuit court found that Florida’s ban on carrying concealed firearms for 18- to 20-year-olds was unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, leading to the dismissal of 19-year-old Joel Walkes’s conviction on third-degree felony charges. The judge concluded that the state’s ban conflicted with the Supreme Court’s historical test and was inconsistent with the recent ruling by the First District Court of Appeal, which struck down open carry restrictions.
In September 2025, Florida’s First District Court of Appeal legalized open carry of firearms statewide, ruling that an existing prohibition was unconstitutional. While the ruling permits open carry in holsters and visible carry positions, Florida law retains prohibitions against carrying firearms in a rude, careless, angry, or threatening manner, and in certain restricted locations, including schools, government buildings, and bars. These decisions prompted sheriffs to call for legislative clarification of Florida’s revised legal landscape.
