RENO, NV (August 23, 2024) – Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) today announced that it has filed proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law in Palmer v. Lombardo, FPC’s case challenging Nevada’s confiscatory ban on personally manufactured firearms and “unfinished frames or receivers.” The brief, which thoroughly explains why the ban is unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, can be viewed at firearmspolicy.org/palmer.

Procedurally, the case remains on appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals from the district court’s prior dismissal of the case in March of 2022. However, on May 26, 2023, the Ninth Circuit remanded the case to the district court on a limited basis following the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision “solely to develop the historical and factual record.” The Ninth Circuit also directed “the district court to make findings as to: (1) whether A.B. 286 conforms to” the Nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation; “(2) whether it is possible in Nevada to lawfully add a serial number to a self-manufactured unserialized firearm and/or unfinished frame or receiver, and if so, how and under what circumstances; (3) whether it is possible in Nevada to lawfully obtain serialized self-manufacturing and/or self-assembly firearm kits, and if so, how and under what circumstances; and (4) what kind of self-manufacturing Plaintiffs want to engage in.”

The parties conducted discovery on remand and, now over a year since the Ninth Circuit’s order, have now fully briefed the district court on the facts and law surrounding Nevada’s unconstitutional ban. “This Nation has no history or tradition of regulating—much less banning—the self-manufacturing of firearms for lawful purposes,” the plaintiffs argued in the latest brief. 

The Palmer case is part of FPC’s high-impact strategic litigation program, FPC Law, aimed at eliminating immoral laws and creating a world of maximal liberty.

Firearms Policy Coalition (firearmspolicy.org), a 501(c)4 nonprofit membership organization, exists to create a world of maximal human liberty, defend constitutional rights, advance individual liberty, and restore freedom. We work to achieve our strategic objectives through litigation, research, scholarly publications, amicus briefing, legislative and regulatory action, grassroots activism, education, outreach, and other programs. Our FPC Law program (FPCLaw.org) is the nation’s preeminent legal action initiative focused on restoring the right to keep and bear arms throughout the United States. Individuals who want to support FPC’s work to eliminate unconstitutional laws can join the FPC Grassroots Army at JoinFPC.org or make a donation at firearmspolicy.org/donate. For more on FPC’s lawsuits and other pro-Second Amendment initiatives, visit FPCLegal.org and follow FPC on Instagram, X (Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube.