Supreme Court narrows federal ban on gun possession by drug users

newsJun 18, 202621305

In United States v. Hemani, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled 9-0 in an opinion by Justice Neil Gorsuch that parts of a 1986 federal law barring unlawful drug users from possessing firearms cannot be applied to Texas marijuana user Ali Hemani. The court held that prosecuting Hemani under the statute violated the Second Amendment and narrowed enforcement of the ban rather than invalidating the entire law. The ruling limits the federal government’s ability to disarm people for unlawful drug use and will reshape how prosecutors and lower courts treat gun-possession cases involving marijuana and similar offenses.

George Pearkes

@peark.es

*SUPREME COURT BACKS RIGHTS OF SOME DRUG USERS TO POSSESS GUNS

8745d ago

Mind Titan33

Hunter Biden pulling up to the local police station to retrieve his gold-plated Yeet Cannon

Brosemite Sam11

Huge day for Hunter Biden

Grumbholdt3

Again, I wonder if any conservative legal scholars have thought through the potential consequences of eroding every Right of the people except the Right to own a gun.

Matt Ford

@mford.bsky.social

First up is United States v. Hemani. SCOTUS says federal law that bans gun ownership for illegal drug users violates the Second Amendment. 9-0 by Gorsuch. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...

5745d ago

John Woodward7

Good news for Hunter Biden!

Matt Ford7

Second (but not last) is Hunter v. United States. SCOTUS says a plea agreement that waives a defendant’s right to appeal is unenforceable if it would result in a “miscarriage of justice.” 8-1 by Kagan with Thomas dissenting. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...

Irene Adler2

Wasn’t this what Hunter Biden was charged with?

The New York Times

@nytimes.com

Breaking News: The Supreme Court narrowed a federal law that banned drug users and addicts from owning or possessing guns.

4145d ago

MaryM2

Of course they did. 🤬

CNN

@cnn.com

Supreme Court limits the power of the federal government to take away guns from drug users https://cnn.it/4ejiJDg

3745d ago

mike0243.bsky.social3

I know I'd feel safer out hunting for drugs if I was carrying some heat. The streets aren't safe in those drug infested neighborhoods.

Fondled J Hump2

You know, we could amend the constitution to fix this garbage.

dday01.bsky.social2

I would trust a stoned person with a gun over a drunk person.

Reuters Legal

@legal.reuters.com

BREAKING: The US Supreme Court sided with a gun-rights challenge to a federal law that bars drug users from owning firearms in the latest test of the US Constitution's Second Amendment right to ‘keep and bear arms’ reut.rs/4vmFzQq

1845d ago

pnwtrekking.bsky.social6

So Hunter Biden did nothing wrong lol

Luminous Path4

Because Reuters still cannot escape ridiculous both-sidesing: The “drug” in question here is pot. The thing that’s legal in 42 states, and is demonstrably less harmful than alcohol.

SCOTUSblog

@scotusblog.com

The first opinion is in US v. Hemani, on the federal law banning drug users from possessing firearms. In an opinion from Gorsuch, the court holds that the prosecution of Ali Hemani under that law is inconsistent with the Second Amendment.

1745d ago

Drew Landry2

So what does that mean?

Katie Buehler

@bykatiebuehler.bsky.social

BREAKING: A 9-0 Supreme Court LIMITS a federal ban on drug users owning firearms, ruling it does not automatically apply to all marijuana users. #SCOTUS www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...

1445d ago

Steven Mazie

@stevenmazie.bsky.social

BREAKING: Supreme Court unanimously upholds Second Amendment rights of man convicted under a federal law barring occasional illegal drug users from having a handgun www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...

1445d ago

Steven Mazie10

Justice Jackson, joined by Sotomayor, writes separately to remind readers that she rejects Bruen, the 2022 case on which Hemani is based.

Kelsey Reichmann

@kelseyreichmann.bsky.social

Breaking: Supreme Court ruled against federal regulations disarming illegal drug users Gorsuch writes: "Had habitual drunkard laws applied to those who simply drank regularly, many notable early Americans could have faced trouble." www.courthousenews.com/supreme-cour...