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 noun
gun 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
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.
The restoration of Gibson's gun rights was a controversial decision in the months leading up to it. Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025 Fortunately, some gun rights groups have spoken up in opposition to the idea of categorically banning transgender Americans from exercising their Second Amendment rights. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 7 Sep. 2025 Such a proposal could face significant pushback not only from civil rights groups but from gun rights organizations, which have historically been resistant to the issuance of any regulations restricting people's access to firearms. Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2025 Barrett has sided with the conservative majority in many cases, bolstering national gun rights, ending affirmative action, and limiting the ability of federal judges to issue nationwide injunctions in a more recent birthright citizenship decision. Solcyré Burga, Time, 2 Sep. 2025 But his emotional appeals and political lifting repeatedly failed to muster enough support in Congress as he was continually thwarted by Republicans and other gun rights advocates who argued it was wrongheaded to regulate firearms for law-abiding citizens. Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025 Dave Workman, a gun rights advocate with the Second Amendment Foundation, said firearms are not to blame for the surge in pandemic shootings. Fred Clasen-Kelly, NPR, 19 Aug. 2025 Agreeing with the gun rights group that brought the case, Castro said the bill had no discernible overarching theme based on its contents. Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 19 Aug. 2025 Earle-Sears, on the other hand, secured the endorsement of the National Rifle Association, further solidifying her stance on gun rights. Heather Hunter, The Washington Examiner, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gun rights was in 1964

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Cite this Entry

“Gun rights.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gun%20rights. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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