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.
In 2023, Kirk said at a public event that gun deaths amount to a worthwhile price paid for gun rights. Max Zahn, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025 This combination of free speech and gun rights makes the growing problem of political violence much harder to solve. Gregory P. Magarian, The Conversation, 10 Oct. 2025 She was fired after opposing a request to restore actor Mel Gibson's gun rights. Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025 Lower courts have split on the measure, setting the stage for another major ruling on the balance between gun rights and public safety. Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025 The court could use the Hawaii case to further broaden gun rights. Alyssa Kapasi, NPR, 3 Oct. 2025 The justices ruled a New York regulator couldn’t encourage insurers and banks to sever ties with the gun rights group without violating the First Amendment. Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 24 Sep. 2025 Daniel Hagan, an attorney representing Culotta who is being paid for by Massachusetts gun rights groups, has appealed Culotta’s detention to the Supreme Judicial Court. Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025 Key issues for the candidates include gun rights, tax policies, reproductive care, and immigration. Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gun rights.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gun%20rights. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!