Your weekly roundup of the biggest Second Amendment and gun rights news from The Truth About Guns.
The Big Story
Austin Terror Attack Reignites Gun-Free Zone Debate
The week’s dominant story began on the night of March 1, when Ndiaga Diagne, a 53-year-old Senegalese immigrant, opened fire with an AR-pattern rifle at Buford’s Backyard Beer Garden near the University of Texas-Austin campus. He killed two people and wounded more before Austin police engaged and neutralized him in under a minute. The attack immediately sparked two parallel debates: whether it should be classified as terrorism, and whether Texas’s “51% rule”—which prohibits concealed carry in establishments that derive more than half their revenue from alcohol sales—left patrons defenseless in a predictable target.
The FBI acknowledged “indicators” of a potential terrorism nexus but stopped short of labeling it an act of terrorism outright—a response that drew criticism from gun-rights commentators. TTAG’s Scott Witner argued that Diagne almost certainly chose the location deliberately, knowing lawful carry would be prohibited inside. Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers, led by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), pivoted immediately to calls for stricter gun control laws rather than addressing the attack’s possible terror dimension—drawing sharp rebukes from the gun-rights community.
Legislative Wins for Gun Rights
New Mexico’s Sweeping Gun Ban Dies in the House—But Advocates Warn It’ll Be Back
March 3, 2026
Gun owners in New Mexico dodged a significant threat when the legislative session adjourned before SB 17 could clear the House. The bill would have banned commonly owned gas-operated semi-automatic firearms, .50-caliber rifles, and magazines holding more than 10 rounds under the broad label of “extremely dangerous weapons.” It had passed the state Senate 21–17, with all Republican senators and three Democrats voting against it. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) celebrated the outcome but warned members to stay vigilant—supporters of the ban have made clear they intend to bring it back next session.
Minnesota Semi-Auto Ban and Magazine Restrictions Stall in Committee
March 3, 2026
Several major gun control proposals pushed by Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota Democrats hit roadblocks following committee votes on February 24–25. Among the casualties: HF 3433, which would have banned commonly owned semi-automatic firearms and required existing owners to register them by May 2027 under strict storage mandates, and HF 3402, a companion bill restricting magazines. Both measures have stalled with little expectation of advancing this session. Gun-rights advocates are cautiously optimistic, though the proposals are expected to resurface.
Legislative Battles Still in Play
West Virginia’s Machine Gun Sales Bill Sparks a Multi-State Movement
March 6, 2026
A creative legislative effort in West Virginia—SB 1071—would create state-operated machine gun stores, exploiting a federal law exception that permits state governments to transfer machine guns to qualified citizens. Gun Owners of America (GOA), which is driving the effort, argues the bill could generate significant state revenue while restoring a right that has been effectively frozen since the Hughes Amendment closed the machine gun registry in 1986. The bill passed the Senate Judiciary Committee but subsequently hit procedural obstacles. The concept is now spreading: Kentucky lawmakers have introduced similar legislation, and GOA is watching other states as well.
Florida’s Push to Restore Gun Rights for 18-to-20-Year-Olds Blocked in Senate
March 4, 2026
House Bill 133, which would lower Florida’s minimum firearm purchase age back to 18, passed the state House for the fourth consecutive year—and for the fourth consecutive year is in danger of dying in the Senate. A Senate committee chairman is currently blocking the bill from receiving a hearing. The age restriction was enacted in 2018 in the immediate aftermath of the Parkland school shooting. Florida Carry is urging members to contact their senators before the legislative session ends. Current law makes it a felony for 18-to-20-year-olds to purchase any firearm in the state.
Courts & Second Amendment
SAF Seeks Rehearing in New Jersey 3D-Printed Gun Files Case
March 5, 2026
The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) has filed a petition for rehearing after a three-judge panel of the Third Circuit dismissed Defense Distributed v. Attorney General of New Jersey. The case, originally filed in 2018, challenges New Jersey’s ban on publishing digital firearm files on both First and Second Amendment grounds. SAF Director of Legal Operations Bill Sack said the panel’s opinion contained multiple analytical errors contradicting established legal precedent. The dismissal was based primarily on legal technicalities rather than the constitutional merits of the challenge. SAF is asking either the original panel or the full bench to reconsider.
The Bigger Picture
Iran’s Upheaval Underscores the Value of an Armed Citizenry
March 5, 2026
With U.S. military operations targeting Iranian leadership (Operation Epic Fury) generating hope among the Iranian people for a freer future, gun-rights advocates drew a pointed lesson: disarmed populations face an uphill battle against authoritarian regimes. CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb noted that without a Second Amendment equivalent, Iranian citizens lack the means to decisively tip the balance against remaining elements of the theocratic government. The piece frames the ongoing conflict as a live-action case study for why the Founders enshrined the right to keep and bear arms.
Pierce County Mass Stabbing: When the Weapon Isn’t a Gun
March 4, 2026
A February 24 mass stabbing in Pierce County, Washington, in which a man who had a protective order against him killed four people with a knife before being shot by sheriff’s deputies, renewed the argument that violent intent—not the type of weapon—is the root cause of mass violence. The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) used the tragedy to highlight what gun-rights advocates have long argued: that restricting firearms does nothing to stop determined killers who will simply use other means. The incident also raised the familiar question of how effectively a piece of paper (a protective order) can shield unarmed victims.
That’s a wrap on the week’s news. Stay tuned to TTAG for continued coverage of the Austin attack investigation, the West Virginia machine gun bill, and legislative battles playing out in statehouses across the country.
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