Major breaking news rocked the Second Amendment world as the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in Sanchez v. Bonta, a pivotal case challenging California’s statewide ban on suppressors and silencers. Despite the Ninth Circuit’s long history of hostility toward gun rights, two of the three judges on the panel appeared notably sympathetic to the arguments made by the attorneys representing Gary Sanchez, raising real hope for a potential 2–1 pro-2A ruling.

The State of California argued that suppressors are “dangerous” accessories that make it harder for potential victims and law enforcement to detect gunfire or locate a shooter. Their claim hinges on the idea that suppressors have little self-defense utility and are primarily tools that increase criminal capability — despite little to no evidence of suppressors being used in crime nationwide.

Sanchez’s legal team countered with a powerful constitutional argument grounded in Heller, Bruen, and Rahimi. Their case centers on several key points:

• Suppressors are arms, or at minimum, directly regulate “arms-bearing conduct,” which falls under the Second Amendment’s protection.
• Millions of suppressors are lawfully owned across the United States, and they are overwhelmingly used for safe, lawful purposes.
• The devices provide critical hearing protection, improve safe firearm handling, enhance self-defense by preventing disorientation during defensive gunfire, and support safer training — something the Supreme Court has expressly recognized as part of the Second Amendment.
• Even under the Ninth Circuit’s own flawed precedent (Duncan v. Bonta), the suppressor ban cannot stand because it prohibits an entire class of commonly owned, constitutionally protected firearms accessories.

California, under questioning from the judges, struggled to provide real-world examples of criminals using suppressors, effectively conceding the point.

A decision could split 2–1 either way, but the tone of the questioning strongly suggests a possible victory for the Second Amendment — at least at the panel level. Whether the Ninth Circuit attempts to rehear the case en banc remains an open question.

For now, gun owners nationwide are watching closely. A win here could open the door for future challenges to suppressor bans across the country.