This has sparked major outrage.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a temporary allowance for the state of Illinois’ ban on “assault weapons” to take effect.
According to Fox, the Supreme Court’s decision permits the ban on “assault weapons” in Illinois to stay in place while lower courts deliberate on its constitutionality. The ruling was issued in response to a gun shop owner’s request for an injunction against the ban in Illinois.
In Illinois, the law prohibits the sale and new possession of semi-automatic “assault weapons.” However, those who already legally own such weapons are not required to surrender them. The law also prohibits the sale of large capacity magazines.
The Supreme Court did not provide any justification for its decision on Wednesday, and no objections were noted.
The National Foundation for Gun Rights (NFGR), a legal organization linked to the gun store that sought an injunction, expressed disappointment with the Supreme Court’s ruling on Wednesday. Despite this setback, the group is still determined to contest Illinois’ ban.
Hannah Hill, the Executive Director of NFGR, stated, “The Supreme Court’s decision was merely a temporary one and not based on the substance of the case. It is evident that the Supreme Court is closely monitoring the situation, and we intend to appeal soon on the merits if the 7th Circuit Court decides against us, as it seems likely to do based on current indications.”
The case is presently being considered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit, and the petition for an injunction was submitted to Justice Amy Coney Barrett.
On January 10, Illinois enacted the Protect Illinois Communities Act, which prohibits the sale, purchase, manufacture, delivery, and importation of semi-automatic “assault weapons” and large capacity magazines, with the exception of law enforcement, military members, and certain professionals with firearm training. The law specifically mentions the AR-15 and AK-47 rifles, and requires legal owners of semi-automatic rifles to register their ownership with the state police.