House Republican bloc files amicus brief urging SCOTUS to strike down AR-15 bans

A coalition of more than 60 House Republicans, coordinated by Rep. Andrew Clyde, has submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court requesting that the bans on AR-15-type rifles be ruled unconstitutional. The filing coincides with the Court’s decision to hear Grant v. Higgins, which focuses on Second and Fourteenth Amendment protections for such firearms, and the consolidated case Viramontes v. Cook County, which challenges Chicago’s assault-weapon ban.

The brief argues that the Second Amendment safeguards weapons in common lawful use, referencing landmark decisions Miller (1939) and Heller (2008) along with historical documents like one outlet Papers and the Militia Act of 1903. Clyde emphasizes that the amendment’s language “shall not be infringed” applies to semi-automatic rifles owned by millions of law-abiding citizens. The American Center for Law & Justice backs the effort, and the brief concludes that AR-15s meet the “common-use” test and should remain protected. The outcome could reshape gun-control policy nationwide.