In the wake of a recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, the spotlight has turned to federal gun laws, particularly those related to possession of firearms by convicted felons. One of the laws in question is the prohibition on possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number, which the suspect, Ryan Wesley Routh, has been charged with.
This federal law has been the subject of judicial scrutiny in recent years, with courts reexamining its constitutionality in light of a 2022 Supreme Court decision that expanded Second Amendment rights. The debate centers around whether the law violates the Second Amendment and if it is necessary for public safety.
While some federal courts have upheld the prohibition, citing cases involving individuals convicted of violent and non-violent felonies, others have questioned its constitutionality. A Philadelphia-based federal appeals court, for example, initially deemed the law constitutional but later reversed its decision, pointing to the Supreme Court's emphasis on historical tradition in firearm laws.
The Solicitor General has urged the Supreme Court to settle the matter once and for all, emphasizing the importance of clarity in upholding public safety. In response, the Supreme Court has revisited its stance on firearm regulations, stating that certain restrictions are permissible to disarm individuals who pose a credible threat to others.
With the revised framework in mind, lower courts are now tasked with reevaluating cases involving the felon disarmament law. The Supreme Court's call for a closer examination of these cases signals a potential shift in how federal gun laws are interpreted and enforced moving forward.
