The fight for Second Amendment rights is rapidly expanding beyond traditional firearms, with recent federal court rulings affirming protections for switchblade knives and body armor, signaling a significant shift ahead of a crucial Supreme Court case that could define whether AR-15-style rifles are constitutionally protected “arms.” The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals declared a federal ban on switchblade knife commerce unconstitutional, while a New York federal judge struck down the state’s restrictions on personal body armor, both courts concluding these items qualify as protected “arms” under the Second Amendment. These decisions bolster the arguments of gun-rights advocates in the upcoming Supreme Court case, *Viramontes v. Cook County*, which directly challenges bans on AR-15-style rifles and could set a precedent for a wide array of defensive equipment, including ammunition magazines and other accessories. Legal experts argue that these rulings, heavily influenced by the Supreme Court’s landmark decisions in *Heller* and *Bruen*, establish a framework where the burden of proof shifts to the government to demonstrate historical justification for restricting items that fall within the Second Amendment’s scope, potentially opening the door for broader interpretations of protected “arms” in an evolving technological landscape.
Adapted from: Latest Political News on Fox News
