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 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 Supreme Court barred the government from restricting the gun rights of casual drug users in a case involving the same statute used to convict Hunter Biden. Josh Feldman, NBC news, 19 June 2026 The Supreme Court ruled to limit the power of the federal government to restrict the gun rights of casual drug users. Will Gottsegen, The Atlantic, 18 June 2026 Also backing him were gun rights groups like the National Rifle Association. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 18 June 2026 In a remarkable move two years ago, a top Republican lawmaker scrapped plans for two gun rights bills in the aftermath of the Chiefs Super Bowl rally shooting. Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026 In another gun rights case, the justices may loosen a federal law aimed at keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous or irresponsible people. Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 17 June 2026 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 Just last year the ATF paused the DL2 program after gun rights groups long criticized its existence. Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 4 June 2026

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 25 Jun. 2026.

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