Firearms Policy Coalition

After defeating Pennsylvania’s age-based carry restrictions in the Third Circuit, FPC and NRA return to federal court to challenge the Commonwealth’s ban on licensed carry by 18-to-20-year-old adults.

PHILADELPHIA (October 29, 2026) — Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today that it filed a new federal Second Amendment lawsuit, Maines v. Bethel, challenging Pennsylvania’s unconstitutional ban on lawful firearm carry in most public places by adults under 21. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the lawsuit is brought by FPC and the National Rifle Association (NRA), alongside a member whose right to carry firearms for self-defense is being denied by the Commonwealth.

Building on another major victory, FPC asks full Fifth Circuit to reject flawed precedent and hold that lifetime disarmament must be justified by demonstrated physical danger—not felony labels or centuries-old death penalties.

NEW ORLEANS (October 22, 2026) — Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today that it filed an amicus (friend of the court) brief with the en banc (full-court) U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in United States v. Cordova, urging the court to reject an erroneous legal theory used to justify federal lifetime gun bans and recognize that Americans cannot be permanently disarmed merely because they have been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison.

In a first-of-its-kind Second Amendment victory, federal judge holds defensive body armor is constitutionally protected, grants FPC summary judgment, and orders permanent injunction against New York's unconstitutional ban.

BUFFALO, NY (October 21, 2026) — Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today a historic victory in Heeter v. James, securing the first known federal Second Amendment judgment striking down a general ban on the purchase of defensive body armor. In a sweeping 47-page decision, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York held that body armor is an “Arm” protected by the Second Amendment, granted FPC summary judgment, and permanently enjoined New York's unconstitutional restrictions on purchasing and selling protective armor.

FPC files appeal brief and seeks full-court review to overturn second-class legal standard blocking challenges to D.C.’s ban on common firearm magazines.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 15, 2026) — Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today that it filed an opening brief and a petition for initial hearing en banc in its Wehr-Darroca v. District of Columbia appeal, asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to overturn decades-old precedent that treats Second Amendment challenges differently from other constitutional cases and keeps peaceable gun owners out of court.

FPC’s strategy to end lifetime disarmament delivers another major victory as en banc Third Circuit issues strong, binding precedent affirming judgment for a peaceable man disarmed over a nonviolent conviction.

PHILADELPHIA (October 14, 2026) — Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today a major victory in the FPC-supported case of Williams v. Blanche, where the en banc (full-court) U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed the district court’s summary judgment holding that the federal government cannot constitutionally impose its lifetime gun ban on Edward Williams because of his decades-old, nonviolent DUI conviction.

Continuing its years-long campaign to eliminate New York’s massive patchwork of public carry bans, FPC argues Attorney General Letitia James should remain in the case challenging the State’s post-Bruen Times Square gun ban.

NEW YORK (October 13, 2026) — Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today that it filed an opposition to New York Attorney General Letitia James’s motion to dismiss in Goldberger v. James, FPC’s lawsuit challenging the State’s unconstitutional ban on firearm carry in the Times Square area. Briefing on James’s motion began over the summer, but due to an instruction from the court, the documents were not filed on the docket until Friday.

FPC asks 15 state attorneys general to immediately stop enforcing laws tied to the now-enjoined federal NFA registration regime and work toward permanent legislative repeal.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 9, 2026) — Following the historic end to the NFA’s unconstitutional federal registration scheme for untaxed firearms and suppressors, Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today that lawyers for the organization sent letters to the attorneys general of 15 states that still tie the legality of silencers, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, or other covered arms to compliance with the federal National Firearms Act registration process. FPC is asking those states to immediately stop enforcement while lawmakers repeal the laws for good.

Continuing its nationwide campaign to eliminate nonresident carry bans, FPC’s latest motion seeks immediate relief from Colorado and Denver laws that completely disarm peaceable Americans simply because they live in another state.

DENVER, CO (October 7, 2026) — Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) announced today that it filed a motion for preliminary injunction in Hoffman v. City and County of Denver, asking the federal court to immediately block enforcement of the Colorado and Denver gun carry ban regime as to Plaintiff Gene Hoffman and similarly situated peaceable nonresidents, and require Colorado to allow them to obtain carry licenses on the same terms as Colorado residents.