In a blow to gun rights advocates, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a major challenge to Maryland’s assault weapons ban, leaving intact a law that prohibits citizens from owning some of the most popular rifles in the country — including the AR-15.

The Court offered no explanation, as is typical, but the rejection sparked fierce dissent from Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, and Neil Gorsuch, who made it clear they believe these types of gun bans violate the Second Amendment.

“I would not wait to decide whether the government can ban the most popular rifle in America,” Justice Thomas wrote. “That question is of critical importance to tens of millions of law-abiding AR-15 owners throughout the country.”

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, while siding with the decision to delay the case, openly expressed doubts about the constitutionality of such bans and said the issue is likely to return to the high court within the next year or two.

The case involved a Maryland law passed in 2013, following the tragic Sandy Hook shooting, which outlawed dozens of semiautomatic rifles including the AR-15 and AK-47, and limited magazine capacity to 10 rounds. Critics have long argued that such restrictions punish law-abiding citizens while doing nothing to stop violent criminals, who by definition do not follow gun laws.

Despite the Court’s refusal to hear the challenge, this issue is far from settled. At least 10 states and the District of Columbia have similar bans on so-called “assault weapons” and high-capacity magazines. Many of those laws are now being challenged in lower courts thanks to the Court’s 2022 Bruen decision, which declared that firearm regulations must align with America’s historical tradition of gun ownership — not modern-day policy opinions about public safety.

Legal experts say the Court’s refusal may have more to do with timing and lower court confusion than constitutional merit. Several federal appeals courts are currently considering similar cases, and some justices may want to wait until conflicting rulings force the issue back to SCOTUS.

Meanwhile, the Biden-aligned gun control lobby is celebrating.

The Maryland law, passed in the wake of an emotional national moment, categorizes basic semiautomatic rifles — which are used in hunting, home defense, and competitive shooting — as “military-style” weapons, despite their popularity and law-abiding use among millions of Americans.

This is the same playbook Democrats use time and time again: exploit tragedy, target law-abiding gun owners, and chip away at the Second Amendment.

Thomas and Alito aren’t buying it. Neither are tens of millions of Americans.

With even Justice Kavanaugh expressing skepticism, it's clear the Court isn’t done with the Second Amendment. The only question is whether it will take up the fight before more states follow Maryland’s lead in criminalizing constitutionally protected firearms.