Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) just dropped a bombshell in their ongoing battle against New Jersey’s draconian short-barreled rifle (SBR) ban, filing a motion for summary judgment in FPC v. Platkin. This isn’t some routine paperwork—it’s a direct assault on the law’s constitutionality under the Supreme Court’s landmark Bruen decision, which demands that gun restrictions be rooted in America’s historical tradition of firearm regulation. FPC argues that New Jersey’s blanket prohibition on SBRs—those compact rifles with barrels under 16 inches—lacks any analog from the Founding era or Reconstruction period. No Founding Father was banning Daniel Boone’s favored squirrel rifle equivalent, and post-Civil War history shows no tradition of outlawing utilitarian shoulder-fired arms for self-defense or militia use. By invoking Bruen’s text-and-history test, FPC is forcing the court to confront the absurdity of a state treating common AR-15 pistol configurations or historical muskets as dangerous and unusual weapons.
This move is tactical genius, sidestepping a full trial by urging the judge to rule as a matter of law right now. New Jersey’s Attorney General Gurbir Platkin is cornered: their defenses have crumbled under Bruen scrutiny in cases like Rahimi (upholding disarmament for domestic abusers but reaffirming historical limits) and recent district court wins striking down other state bans. If granted, summary judgment could dismantle not just NJ’s SBR law but ripple nationwide, challenging ATF’s National Firearms Act classifications and emboldening challenges to assault weapon bans in blue states like California and New York. For the 2A community, it’s a high-stakes poker play—win here, and we reclaim compact, maneuverable rifles for home defense without jumping through NFA hoops. Lose, and it sets up a fast-track appeal to the Third Circuit or SCOTUS, keeping the pressure on post-Bruen reforms.
The implications are massive for gun owners: SBRs aren’t gangster toys; they’re practical for vehicle storage, CQB scenarios, and even wheelchair-bound defenders. FPC’s aggressive litigation, backed by real plaintiffs like everyday NJ residents denied their rights, underscores a shifting tide—over 30 Bruen-compliant victories since 2022. Stay tuned; this could be the crack that shatters the post-NFA edifice, reminding tyrants that the Second Amendment isn’t a suggestion. Support FPC, because freedom doesn’t defend itself.
