{"id":2441961,"date":"2025-06-02T17:53:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-02T21:53:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/clarence-thomas-blasts-supreme-court-for-punting-on-legality-of-ar-15-ban\/"},"modified":"2025-06-02T17:54:57","modified_gmt":"2025-06-02T21:54:57","slug":"clarence-thomas-blasts-supreme-court-for-punting-on-legality-of-ar-15-ban","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/clarence-thomas-blasts-supreme-court-for-punting-on-legality-of-ar-15-ban\/","title":{"rendered":"Clarence Thomas blasts Supreme Court for punting on legality of AR-15 ban"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fclarence-thomas-blasts-supreme-court-for-punting-on-legality-of-ar-15-ban%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2441961&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Justice Clarence Thomas criticized the Supreme Court&#8217;s decision not to hear a case challenging Maryland&#8217;s law banning &#8220;assault weapons,&#8221; specifically targeting the AR-15 firearm. The Court declined to review a pro-gun group&#8217;s petition to overturn the 2013 Maryland law, which a lower court upheld.in his dissent,Thomas argued that the law&#8217;s ban on one of America&#8217;s most popular rifles raises significant constitutional concerns and criticized the Fourth circuit Court for placing an undue burden on challengers of the law. He emphasized that until the Court actively protects Second Amendment rights, they would remain undermined. additionally, Justice Brett Kavanaugh indicated that the refusal to hear the case should not be interpreted as the Court&#8217;s approval of the Maryland law, hinting that further petitions related to AR-15 regulations would likely come before the Court in the near future. The Firearms Policy Coalition expressed disappointment over the decision but vowed to continue advocating against such bans.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Clarence Thomas blasts Supreme Court for punting on legality of AR-15 ban<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2135568\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Justice <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/clarence-thomas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Clarence Thomas\">Clarence Thomas<\/a> blasted the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Supreme Court\">Supreme Court<\/a> on Monday for declining to take up a case challenging Maryland&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tiktok-ban-gives-social-media-addicts-a-chance-at-sobriety\/\" title=\"TikTok Ban Gives Social Media Addicts A Chance At Sobriety\">law banning &#038;ldquo<\/a>;assault weapons,&rdquo; which specifically targets the AR-15 firearm.<\/p>\n<p>The high court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/24pdf\/24-203_5ie6.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"denied to hear a case\">denied a petition to hear a case<\/a> brought by a pro-gun group to overturn a 2013 Maryland law that outlawed various semiautomatic firearms, labeling them illegal &ldquo;assault weapons.&rdquo; A lower appeals court ruled 10-5 to uphold the law, which will remain in effect because the Supreme Court declined to take up the case.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3428439\/trump-supreme-court-stop-federal-workforce-cuts\/\">Trump administration asks Supreme Court to stop order blocking federal workforce cuts<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3428235\/supreme-court-mail-in-ballots-after-election-day-gop-challenge\/\">Supreme Court takes up GOP challenge to counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3426631\/supreme-court-allows-trump-administration-end-mass-parole\/\">Supreme Court allows Trump administration to end mass parole for migrants<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, and Thomas said they would have taken up the case. Thomas wrote a blistering dissent to the decision not to hear the challenge, arguing it is &ldquo;difficult to see how Maryland&rsquo;s categorical prohibition on AR&ndash;15s passes muster&rdquo; under Supreme Court precedent.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I would not wait to decide whether the government can ban the most popular rifle in America. That question is of critical importance to tens of millions of law-abiding AR&ndash;15 owners throughout the country. We have avoided deciding it for a full decade,&rdquo; Thomas said.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I doubt we would sit idly by if lower courts were to so subvert our precedents involving any other constitutional right. Until we are vigilant in enforcing it, the right to bear arms will remain &lsquo;a second-class right,&#8217;&rdquo; Thomas added.<\/p>\n<p>He also took aim at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit for its decision to uphold the Maryland law.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The Fourth Circuit placed too high a burden on the challengers to show that the Second Amendment presumptively protected their conduct. And, it&rsquo;s determination that AR&ndash;15s are dangerous and unusual does not withstand scrutiny,&rdquo; Thomas said, arguing the appeals court should have instead placed the burden on Maryland to show its ban was lawful.<\/p>\n<p>Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote a statement on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scotus-overturns-chevron-doctrine-upends-administrative-state\/\" title=\"SCOTUS Overturns Chevron Doctrine, Upends Administrative State\">high court&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s decision to deny the petition to hear the case, calling the lower court&rsquo;s decision questionable and saying the denial should not be viewed as the Supreme Court agreeing with the Maryland law or &ldquo;that the issue is not worthy of review.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Opinions from other Courts of Appeals should assist this Court&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/tennessee-governor-signs-executive-order-allowing-parents-to-avoid-masking-their-children\/\" title=\"Tennessee Governor Signs Executive Order Allowing Parents To Avoid Masking Their Children\">ultimate decision-making<\/a> on the AR&ndash;15 issue. Additional petitions for certiorari will likely be before this Court shortly, and, in my view, this Court should and presumably will address the AR&ndash;15 issue soon, in the next Term or two,&rdquo; Kavanaugh said.<\/p>\n<p>The Firearms Policy Coalition, which pushed for the high court to hear the case, said it was &ldquo;disappointed&rdquo; that some of the justices did &ldquo;not have the judicial courage to do their most important job and enforce the Constitution.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Like millions of peaceable gun owners across the country, we are frustrated that the Court continues to allow lower courts to treat the Second Amendment as a second-class right. But more than anything else, we are more resolved than ever to fight forward and eliminate these immoral bans throughout the nation, whatever and however long it takes,&rdquo; the group said in a statement on Monday.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/supreme-court\/3428235\/supreme-court-mail-in-ballots-after-election-day-gop-challenge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"SUPREME COURT TAKES UP GOP CHALLENGE TO COUNTING MAIL-IN BALLOTS THAT ARRIVE AFTER ELECTION DAY\">SUPREME COURT TAKES UP GOP CHALLENGE TO COUNTING MAIL-IN BALLOTS THAT ARRIVE AFTER ELECTION DAY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The group also said it would continue to litigate cases against &ldquo;assault weapon&rdquo; bans and vowed to return to the Supreme Court in the &ldquo;near future.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>As part of its order list released Monday, the Supreme Court also declined to take up a case challenging Rhode Island&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >law banning high-capacity magazines<\/a> for firearms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2135568\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2135568\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Clarence Thomas criticizes Supreme Court for avoiding AR-15 ban case<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2638,"featured_media":2441962,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ar-15-guns-file-photo.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[56373,34632,52020,36218,32275],"class_list":["post-2441961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ar-15-ban","tag-clarence-thomas","tag-gun-rights-2","tag-legal-analysis","tag-supreme-court"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ar-15-guns-file-photo.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441961","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2638"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2441961"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441961\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2441965,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2441961\/revisions\/2441965"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2441962"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2441961"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2441961"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2441961"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}