On May 11, 2026, Palmetto State Armory joined the National Association for Gun Rights and The Right to Bear Association in filing an amicus brief with the United States Supreme Court in support of Patrick Tate Adamiak, a decorated Navy veteran currently serving a 20-year federal prison sentence.
According to the filing, Adamiak was convicted over possession of items that government witnesses themselves acknowledged could not fire a projectile. The items included cut-up parts requiring welding to function, inert training tubes, and surplus military components stored separately with lawful uses.
The organizations argue that the Fourth Circuit improperly dismissed Adamiak’s Second Amendment claims without conducting the historical analysis required under landmark Supreme Court rulings including District of Columbia v. Heller, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, and McDonald v. Chicago.
The amicus brief contends that the government failed to demonstrate any historical tradition of criminalizing possession of properly marked inert military relics or nonfunctional surplus items. It also argues that items incapable of firing a projectile do not meet the “dangerous and unusual” standard referenced in Heller.
The filing further highlights the longstanding American tradition of civilian ownership of military surplus items, citing examples such as the Civilian Marksmanship Program and historical civilian ownership of military arms dating back to the founding era.
Palmetto State Armory stated that supporting constitutional rights litigation remains a core part of the company’s mission. PSA also noted that a portion of customer purchases helps fund Second Amendment advocacy efforts and legal challenges related to firearm rights.
The organizations involved are asking the Supreme Court to ensure lower courts properly apply the constitutional standards established in prior Second Amendment rulings and to address what they describe as a significant miscarriage of justice in Adamiak’s case.