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What Has Heller Wrought In 18 Years?

"In nearly two decades, very little about the practical right to keep and bear arms has changed."

Josh Blackman | 7.15.2026 11:07 AM

Brown v. Board of Education was decided in 1954. How much of an impact did Brown have on racial segregation in the United States over the next two decades?

Mapp v. Ohio was decided in 1961, Miranda v. Arizona was decided in 1966, and Katz v. United States was decided in 1967. How much did criminal procedure law change over the ensuing two decades?

Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. Nineteen years later, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that precedent in Casey.

Romer v. Evans was decided in 1996. Nineteen years later the Supreme Court created a constitutional right to same-sex marriage.

And so on.

Certain landmark Supreme Court precedents have an immediate and significant impact on the state of constitutional law. Other precedents change very little. In my view, as we celebrate Heller's eighteenth birthday, not much has changed for gun owners living in blue states. To be sure, I think Heller was correct. And there have been some wins as states have revised their gun laws--often kicking and screaming. But the impact of Heller pales in comparison with the two decade run after other landmark cases. Even where there is "shall issue" conceal carry, virtually every public place is off limits, making it difficult to actually carry. States........

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