Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
An Illinois firearms retailer, alongside a national gun rights organization, has appealed to the US Supreme Court to overturn a state ban on assault-style rifles and high-capacity magazines.
The National Association for Gun Rights, along with Robert Bevis and his store, Law Weapons & Supply, are challenging the ban, which was enacted following a mass shooting in Highland Park, Chicago, in 2022. The shooting led to the passing of the Protect Illinois Communities Act by Governor J.B. Pritzker, prohibiting the sale and distribution of various semiautomatic “assault weapons,” including AK-47 and AR-15 rifles and magazines exceeding specified round capacities.
The plaintiffs, who previously sought an injunction from the Supreme Court and were denied in May, contend that the bans from both Naperville and the state violate the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, which guarantees the right to “keep and bear” arms.
The case emerges amidst numerous legal challenges against Illinois’ ban, both in federal and state courts. The 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago recently ruled against the plaintiffs, stating that the bans are likely lawful as the Second Amendment pertains more to weapons for individual self-defense rather than military use. The 7th Circuit argued that assault weapons and high-capacity magazines are more akin to machine guns and military-grade weaponry, rather than firearms typically used for personal protection.
The Supreme Court, with its current 6-3 conservative majority, has historically taken a broader interpretation of the Second Amendment. In a landmark 2022 ruling, the court recognized a constitutional right to publicly carry a handgun for self-defense, overturning a New York state law and emphasizing that gun restrictions must align with the nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation to be consistent with the Second Amendment.
