A federal judge has overturned Illinois’ ban on semiautomatic weapons, leaning on recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that strictly interpret the Second Amendment right to keep and bear firearms.

Summary

A federal judge in Illinois ruled the state’s ban on semiautomatic weapons unconstitutional, citing recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that reinforce Second Amendment rights.

Judge Stephen McGlynn issued a permanent injunction against the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which bans AR-15-style rifles and high-capacity magazines, but delayed its enforcement for 30 days to allow for appeal.

The law, enacted after a 2022 mass shooting in Highland Park, faced opposition from gun rights advocates and some local sheriffs.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul promptly appealed the ruling, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker expressing confidence the ban will ultimately be upheld.

  • Chozo@fedia.io
    66·
    5 days ago

    The second amendment doesn’t say “keep and bear some kinds of arms”, it just says “keep and bear arms”.

    Yeah, but it was also written at a time when the most advanced armaments available were bolt-action rifles. The idea that civilians could own and fire 1000+ round-per-minute machine guns in their backyard was unimaginable back then.

    2A needs to be updated. The times have changed. Arms have changed.

    • n2burns@lemmy.ca
      5·
      5 days ago

      Yeah, but it was also written at a time when the most advanced armaments available were bolt-action rifles.

      Actually, according to Wikipedia, “The first bolt-action rifle was produced in 1824” so that’s decades after the second amendment was ratified.

      • Chozo@fedia.io
        31·
        5 days ago

        Dang, I didn’t wanna say “musket” because I thought that was too old, but maybe those were still in use at the time. So even a BAR is more modern than what Madison could’ve had in mind.

        • ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.netEnglish
          3·
          4 days ago

          Smoothbore musket was the standard issue firearm during that period, with a smattering of rifled muzzleloaders as well.

    • BombOmOm@lemmy.worldEnglish
      51·
      4 days ago

      the most advanced armaments available were bolt-action rifles

      At the time, individuals owned top-of-the-class warships complete with cannons. It’s what made up a good portion of the continental navy.

      The Lewis and Clark Expedition even used the Girandoni rifle, complete with a 21 round magazine.