Supreme Court to Review Gun Law Used in Hunter Biden Conviction

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review the constitutionality of a federal gun law that bars drug users from owning firearms, a law under which Hunter Biden was convicted before receiving a pardon from President Joe Biden. The case involves Ali Hemani, charged under the same statute after drugs and a firearm were found in his home, but his case was dismissed by the Fifth Circuit Court, which ruled the law only applies to those actively intoxicated when possessing a gun. The Trump administration, despite its pro-Second Amendment stance, is urging the Supreme Court to reinstate the case against Hemani and broadly uphold the law to prohibit gun ownership by regular drug users, even if not intoxicated at the time of possession. This case presents the Court with an opportunity to clarify ambiguities stemming from its 2022 landmark decision in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, which emphasized historical analogues from the 18th and 19th centuries to assess modern gun regulations. Legal experts note the challenge before the Court is balancing contemporary understanding of addiction and public safety with constitutional rights under the Second Amendment. The ruling is expected to have significant implications for gun rights and drug use laws, stirring strong reactions regardless of its outcome.