In a recent ruling, the US Supreme Court declined to block Illinois’ assault rifle and high-capacity magazine ban. The decision, which mirrors a previous ruling from May, was revealed in a one-page order. It follows an action from the US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in November, which also allowed the ban to remain in effect.
Illinois Attorney General, Kwame Raoul, expressed contentment with the Supreme Court’s order and reiterated his commitment to upholding the ban and its constitutionality.
The Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA), Illinois’ law banning the use of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, was challenged in the Supreme Court by The National Association for Gun Rights and Robert Bevis, owner of Law Weapons & Supply store. The challengers contend that PICA infringes on the rights of citizens under the Second Amendment and should be declared invalid.
The challengers’ argument partly hinged on the Supreme Court’s ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, which defeated a New York gun permit law and set stringent standards for state legislature-regulated gun ownership. However, the Seventh Circuit found that the term “Arms” in the Second Amendment’s plain text does not extend to weapons used exclusively for military purposes, which PICA bans. They concluded that PICA does not infringe on the Second Amendment.
PICA was enacted by governor Pritzker following a Fourth of July shooting. It restricts the sale and production of assault rifles, .50 caliber ammunition, any .50 caliber rifle, and certain pistols. It also sets limits on the capacity of ammunition. The law was previously contested in a state court, where it was ruled as a violation of the Illinois constitution. However, this ruling was later overturned by the Illinois Supreme Court.
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