(Scypre.com) – On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court made a temporary decision allowing Illinois to enforce its ban on “assault weapons.”
This ruling permits the Illinois law to remain in effect while lower courts deliberate on its constitutionality. The ruling came about after a gun shop owner in Illinois sought an injunction against the ban.
The law in Illinois prohibits the sale and new ownership of semi-automatic “assault weapons.” Individuals who already legally possess such firearms are not required to surrender them. Additionally, the law prohibits the sale of large capacity magazines.
The Supreme Court did not provide a specific explanation for its decision on Wednesday, and there were no recorded disagreements among the justices.
The case is currently under consideration by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. The gun shop owner’s request for an injunction was submitted to Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
Illinois enacted the Protect Illinois Communities Act on January 10, 2023, which bans the sale, purchase, manufacturing, delivery, and importation of “assault weapons” and large capacity magazines, with exceptions for law enforcement, military personnel, and certain other professionals with firearm training.
The law specifically mentions the AR-15 and AK-47 rifles, requiring lawful owners of semi-automatic rifles to register their ownership with the state police.
Initially, Judge Stephen Patrick McGlynn, appointed by former President Trump, granted the injunction in May. However, Appellate Judge Frank Easterbrook later overturned McGlynn’s ruling, a decision that has now received support from both the 7th Circuit and the Supreme Court.
McGlynn’s ruling argued that the Illinois law violated the right to self-defense and, in some instances, completely eliminated that right by criminalizing the purchase and sale of over 190 types of firearms.