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The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a significant ruling that could impact firearm owners across nine western states, holding that suppressors are not protected under the plain text of the Second Amendment. The decision came in United States v. Dubois, a case involving the possession of an unregistered suppressor regulated under the National Firearms Act (NFA).

In its opinion, the court concluded that suppressors are merely firearm accessories rather than protected “arms,” placing them outside the scope of Second Amendment protections. The ruling also described the NFA’s suppressor registration process as a “shall-issue” licensing system, further supporting the court’s decision.

The decision could have major implications for ongoing firearm litigation, including challenges to California’s strict suppressor ban. Legal observers note that the ruling now serves as binding precedent throughout the Ninth Circuit, potentially influencing future cases involving suppressors and firearm accessories.

Gun rights advocates are expected to continue challenging suppressor restrictions through appeals and future lawsuits, while many are looking to the U.S. Supreme Court for eventual clarification on whether suppressors receive constitutional protection under the Second Amendment.