gun rights
plural noun
U.S. politics
: legal rights that allow civilians to own, use, and sell guns
supporters of gun rights
—often used before another noungun rights advocates/groups
Note: The term gun rights often suggests support for an interpretation of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that favors broad rights to gun ownership.
Examples of gun rights in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
State militias — acknowledged and recognized in the Second Amendment (which was about keeping those militias vital, not establishing individual gun rights) — were a check on the central authority of a president who was also commander in chief.
—
Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 11 June 2025
It was enacted in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s landmark 2008 decision striking down the district’s handgun ban and for the first time saying the Constitution protects individual gun rights.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 7 June 2025
Both Minnesota and the individuals and gun rights groups that challenged the law sought Supreme Court review because courts around the country have reached different conclusions regarding the lawfulness of limiting young adults’ gun rights.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2025
Lawyers for gun rights groups told the Supreme Court that Mexico's suit is an attempt to bankrupt the American firearms industry and undermine the Second Amendment.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 6 June 2025
Barrett has delivered votes overturning Roe v Wade; expanding gun rights; and rolling back the power of federal agencies as part of the administrative state — all key priorities of Trump and his supporters.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 3 June 2025
The cases could have significantly expanded Americans’ gun rights and restricted state laws on gun control had the court taken up the disputes and ruled the bans violated the Second Amendment.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Former Virginia sheriff Scott Jenkins Culpeper County, Virginia, Sheriff Scott Jenkins speaks during a gun rights rally organized by The Virginia Citizens Defense League on Capitol Square near the state capital building January 20, 2020 in Richmond, Virginia.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 29 May 2025
Vance said May 28 in Las Vegas the independence of bitcoin opens the financial door for people who lose access to banking because of political beliefs such as supporting gun rights.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noah Feldman, Mercury News, 11 June 2025
It was enacted in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s landmark 2008 decision striking down the district’s handgun ban and for the first time saying the Constitution protects individual gun rights.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 7 June 2025
Both Minnesota and the individuals and gun rights groups that challenged the law sought Supreme Court review because courts around the country have reached different conclusions regarding the lawfulness of limiting young adults’ gun rights.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 21 Apr. 2025
Lawyers for gun rights groups told the Supreme Court that Mexico's suit is an attempt to bankrupt the American firearms industry and undermine the Second Amendment.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 6 June 2025
Barrett has delivered votes overturning Roe v Wade; expanding gun rights; and rolling back the power of federal agencies as part of the administrative state — all key priorities of Trump and his supporters.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 3 June 2025
The cases could have significantly expanded Americans’ gun rights and restricted state laws on gun control had the court taken up the disputes and ruled the bans violated the Second Amendment.
—Alison Durkee, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Former Virginia sheriff Scott Jenkins Culpeper County, Virginia, Sheriff Scott Jenkins speaks during a gun rights rally organized by The Virginia Citizens Defense League on Capitol Square near the state capital building January 20, 2020 in Richmond, Virginia.
—Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 29 May 2025
Vance said May 28 in Las Vegas the independence of bitcoin opens the financial door for people who lose access to banking because of political beliefs such as supporting gun rights.
—Bart Jansen, USA Today, 29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gun rights.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gun%20rights. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share