Nearly 18 years after the Supreme Court's landmark decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, very little has changed regarding the practical right to keep and bear arms in the United States. Legal scholar Josh Blackman, writing for Reason on July 15, 2026, notes that unlike other major Supreme Court precedents—such as those affecting racial segregation, criminal procedure, or same-sex marriage—the impact of Heller has been comparatively limited.

Blackman highlights that gun owners in red states generally had strong protections before Heller and continue to maintain those rights through political processes. However, some states like Virginia, described as a "gross outlier," have recently enacted strict firearm bans. Conversely, gun owners in blue states may obtain concealed carry permits but face significant restrictions on where they can legally carry, especially in urban areas.

The article references recent decisions in cases such as Hemani and Wolford, and mentions anticipation around the Supreme Court's granting of a petition related to AR-15 regulations. The Cook County, Arkansas case is noted as potentially providing meaningful improvements to gun owners' rights nationally.

Blackman also draws comparisons to other landmark cases, pointing out that while some Supreme Court rulings have immediate and significant constitutional impacts, Heller's influence has been more muted over nearly two decades.

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