Federal appeals court upholds Illinois ban on semiautomatic weapons

Key Points:

• The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit upheld Illinois' ban on semiautomatic weapons, reversing a lower court ruling that had declared the ban unconstitutional, stating the law aligns with longstanding firearm regulation principles.
• The court rejected claims that semiautomatic weapons are not responsible for mass shootings, citing evidence linking assault weapons and large-capacity magazines to increased severity in such incidents.
• Illinois Governor JB Pritzker hailed the decision as a significant step toward reducing gun violence and enhancing community safety, while the National Shooting Sports Foundation expressed disappointment and plans to seek Supreme Court review.
• The Protect Illinois Communities Act, enacted in 2023 following a deadly 2022 Highland Park parade shooting, bans AR-15 rifles, similar firearms, large-capacity magazines, and certain attachments, facing opposition from some local law enforcement and gun rights advocates.
• Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul emphasized that the ruling supports public safety by restricting weapons deemed "weapons of war," reinforcing the state's stance against assault weapons in communities.