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Supreme Court will review bans on semiautomatic rifles like AR-15
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- The U.S. Supreme Court will review appeals challenging bans on semiautomatic rifles, including the AR-15, in Connecticut and the Chicago area, questioning whether these bans violate the Second Amendment.
- Similar assault weapons bans exist in about a dozen states and major cities, with Congress allowing a national ban to expire in 2004, though efforts to renew it continue amid mass shooting concerns.
- Gun rights advocates argue that banning semiautomatic rifles infringes on constitutional rights, while supporters contend these weapons are frequently used in mass shootings and resemble military-grade arms, justifying restrictions.
- The Connecticut law followed the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, and the Illinois ban dates back to 1993; the conservative-majority court's previous rulings have expanded gun rights and prompted challenges to firearm laws nationwide.
- Oral arguments are expected in the fall, with the court having recently upheld some gun restrictions but struck down others, reflecting ongoing legal debates over gun control measures.
