In a renewed effort to contest Illinois’ ban on assault-style rifles and large capacity magazines, an Illinois firearms retailer and the National Association for Gun Rights have jointly approached the US Supreme Court.
This marks their second attempt to block the state’s Democratic-backed legislation, implemented in response to a tragic mass shooting in Highland Park suburb in 2022.
Gun Rights Group Appeals to Supreme Court
The National Association for Gun Rights, along with Robert Bevis and his firearms store, Law Weapons & Supply, sought a preliminary injunction against the ban, as well as a similar prohibition enacted in Naperville.
Their initial plea for an injunction at an earlier stage of the case was rejected in May, prompting this latest appeal to the highest court in the land.
The ban, titled the Protect Illinois Communities Act, was signed into law by Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker in January.
It prohibits the sale and distribution of various high-powered semiautomatic “assault weapons,” including AK-47 and AR-15 rifles, as well as magazines that exceed certain capacities for long guns and handguns.
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Illinois Assault Weapons Ban Faces Legal Challenge
The legislation was a response to a deadly massacre at an Independence Day parade in Highland Park, resulting in seven fatalities and numerous injuries.
The plaintiffs argue that the bans infringe upon the US Constitution’s Second Amendment, which safeguards the right to “keep and bear” arms.
The 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Chicago, ruled against the challengers on November 3, asserting that the bans were likely lawful, in part because the Second Amendment is applicable to weapons intended for individual self-defense, not military use.
The court likened assault weapons and high-capacity magazines to machine guns and military-grade weaponry rather than firearms used for individual self-defense. The ongoing legal battle reflects the broader national debate on addressing firearms violence and mass shootings.
With the Supreme Court currently holding a 6-3 conservative majority, there is heightened anticipation regarding their stance on this matter.
Notably, the Court has previously expanded gun rights in three landmark rulings since 2008 and emphasized the importance of firearm regulations aligning with the nation’s historical tradition while complying with the Second Amendment.
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