gun rights
plural noun
US 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
But the fallout from a recent lawsuit risks emptying the NRA’s coffers and presents an existential threat to the gun rights group.
—
Stephen Gutowski, Washington Post, 16 June 2026
The high court’s conservative majority typically supports gun rights.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2026
In the more northern, rural, and conservative-leaning of Maine's two congressional districts, gun rights and gas prices are particularly important to its residents.
—Margie Cullen, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Just last year the ATF paused the DL2 program after gun rights groups long criticized its existence.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 4 June 2026
After five days of deliberations, a jury in New York in February 2024 held the NRA liable for financial mismanagement and found that LaPierre corruptly ran the nation's most prominent gun rights group.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 3 June 2026
But on the other side, gun rights groups like the National Rifle Association joined the American Civil Liberties Union in backing Hemani.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Congress banned members of the public from mailing concealable firearms in 1927, but in January the Department of Justice issued an opinion siding with a challenge filed by gun rights groups and declared the federal law unconstitutional.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
The self-defense law was built upon years of similar gun rights legislation.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
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Stephen Gutowski, Washington Post, 16 June 2026
The high court’s conservative majority typically supports gun rights.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 15 June 2026
In the more northern, rural, and conservative-leaning of Maine's two congressional districts, gun rights and gas prices are particularly important to its residents.
—Margie Cullen, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Just last year the ATF paused the DL2 program after gun rights groups long criticized its existence.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 4 June 2026
After five days of deliberations, a jury in New York in February 2024 held the NRA liable for financial mismanagement and found that LaPierre corruptly ran the nation's most prominent gun rights group.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 3 June 2026
But on the other side, gun rights groups like the National Rifle Association joined the American Civil Liberties Union in backing Hemani.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 20 May 2026
Congress banned members of the public from mailing concealable firearms in 1927, but in January the Department of Justice issued an opinion siding with a challenge filed by gun rights groups and declared the federal law unconstitutional.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2026
The self-defense law was built upon years of similar gun rights legislation.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gun rights.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gun%20rights. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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